Peanut peanut butter

Shelly is the one and only friend that I still have from high school AND college.  Amazing.  (I would call her my "oldest" friend, but when I called another friend "old" she requested that I not use that word in conjunction with her name.  Thus I have learned from Debbie Martin not to use the word "oldest friend" as it has a double meaning that may not be flattering to the friend in question).  The first memory that popped into my mind was Shelly's mom who passed away recently (is it recently or is it years now?), how when I decided I was not a meat eater, she was convinced that I just had not been eating the good meats that were out there.  She would say to me, "But this is REALLY good sausage."  Her mother was determined to be the one to turn me back onto meat, I appreciated her attempts to feed me. 

In college, Shel and I roomed together our freshman year and shared our love of Hall & Oats, peanut butter, and many trips to the local TCBY (for what else but peanut butter yogurt). 

Shelly now lives in St. Louis with her husband and 3 beautiful daughters.  I love watching Shelly with her daughters because one or all three of them are constantly touching her or crawling on top of her or sitting on her lap or holding her hands.  It's like they just cannot get enough of her.  The time before our last visit, Ellie wanted to read a book and Shelly immediately sat down with Ellie and her 3 girls and began to read.  When we visit, Shelly always has a spread like you wouldn't believe, carrying on her mother's tradition of feeding me (or at least attempting to).  I would say, Shelly and Jeff are some of the finest hosts that I know.   When you are in their home it just seems as if they are truly happy to have you.  Because of this, every time we are in the St. Louis area we make plans to see them.  During one visit,  I started eating this wonderful quiche, I just could not get enough of it, so yummy was it.  When I asked about it, the whole room got quiet while Jeff & Shel sort of had a quizzical look on their faces.  Then, as comprehension appeared on Shelly's face, she said, "Oh you mean the DIP?"  Oops.  Then, of course, I had to go back and try it as a dip. 

When we went to visit them last summer, it was fanfreakintastic.  Shelly allowed Ellie (hey they even rhyme!) to follow her around the house while she prepared a SPREAD (even though I made the visit at a time when she would not feel obligated to cook for us!)  Shelly prepared the infamous dip that I had so enjoyed the previous time and her daughter, Anna, recalled that Ellie loved chips.  Then once she had everything prepared, Ellie sat down beside Shelly and we all sat around and chit chatted while the rest of the kids sat on the floor and played.  It was unbelievably amazing because so many times Ellie gets lost if there is a crowd of people, feeling as if she is excluded.  But in this situation, somehow, magically we all felt included and loved.  It was spectacular.  I mean before this incident it barely felt possible that there would be a situation where we could actually sit with another family and have an enjoyable conversation, one where I did not feel as if I constantly needed to assist Ellie in taking turns or assist her in feeling included or figure out when there was a pause so she might share her story.  It was like a breath of fresh air to be able to just sit back and relax and connect with the people around us while Ellie was also feeling connected and loved.  So often in these situations I can see the person Ellie is talking with begin to lose interest in talking with her.  Shelly never got to that point, she just stayed connected the whole time.  We ended up staying much longer than I ever anticipated because it was just so magically delicious.  My hope is that some day I will make guests in my home feel as loved and welcome as Shelly did last July.

Happy Birthday, Shel, we are all so happy that you and your family are in our lives!