It is the first really cold day in Louisiana this season. The temperature isn't that low, but the wind is blowing and it feels like winter.
We knew this cold weather was coming, so I had planned all along to make soup today, my dad's minestrone soup to be exact. I went to the grocery store yesterday, but they didn't have the brand of Italian sausage that the recipe calls for, so I went to Dorignac's which always has the sausage I need.
My readers know that my modern day books are set in a fictional town of Bayou Beni, Louisiana. It is fictional, but the warmth and genuine caring depicted in my books are real right here in Metairie.
As the cashier was ringing up my order, I was lucky enough to observe a really sweet scene. A young woman was coming into work to start her shift. The woman bagging at the register I was checking out at is one of the oldest employees at the store. I would guess she is in her seventies.
The young woman walked up to the older woman and hugged her. She said,"I missed you so much! I had four days off so I haven't seen you since you left for vacation. Did you have a good time?"
The older woman replied, "Yes, I did, Baby. I had a wonderful time. I almost hated to come back to work, but I missed you and all my babies while I was gone."
I have seen this woman greet and be greeted by many employees, always with affection and respect. She is indeed a "work mama" to many of the employees at the store.
It warmed my heart, and once again made me glad I live in Louisiana. Everyone can be family here.
And then I came home, and using the recipe in my mom's handwriting, made a pot of my dad's minestrone soup.
The soup will warm my insides, and the memories of mom and dad will warm my heart tonight at supper.
Wishing all who read this three things; warm food on a cold day, warm memories when you need them, and the ability to see pure love exchanged in everyday places.
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