50 MAY 2025 W riter’s block is nothing more than a creative slow down, an inability that can last from a few hours to months or even longer. Thankfully my creative standstill has never been due to having a lack of inspiration or motivation – it has occurred in part to having too many topics to write about and at the time, one hasn’t floated close enough to grasp. In my world, smooth jazz by Paul Hardcastle and other piano soloists play an emotional part in releasing my creative vocabulary. A compliment was paid wherein it was mentioned that the focus of many articles is to sell and promote an idea or item, and my writing leans toward ‘human interest’ or something learned along the way. How many times in our adult lives have we wished we could step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, take a deep, unaccounted- for breath, and be told a story that brought a smile to our face? May is time for composing thoughts that help savor the month’s riches and help to slow things down a little. As quickly as each flower blooms and the birds peck at sunflower seeds, this month will have once again passed by just like all the rest. Starting with the music, dancing, and festivals surrounding Cinco de Mayo, the heartfelt moments spent expressing love on Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day, honoring those who serve in all branches of the United States military, to Memorial Day, which is a reminder of the tenacity of life where reverence is given to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. National Cherry Cobbler Day, No Socks Day, National Wine and Paper Airplane Day, International Jazz Day and National Turtle Day are fun holidays this month, while graduations, vacations, parades, special camping trips, gardening and other activities continue to captivate our spirits. There is a great deal of evidence supporting the powerful connection between memory and the senses. Focusing on Mother’s Day, I closed my eyes and tried to describe the essence of my childhood home and the two magnificent women who raised me. I questioned what would ignite these senses and unlock the avalanche of memories that stir my soul. My mind began to piece together the floorplan of this tiny red brick house with a mission tile roof. My grandmother helped raise me, and how lucky I was to have her every day for so many years. Faith was her natural fragrance. The more incredible things she believed, the lovelier the act of belief. She was able to peek into my heart with unique understanding, offering open arms and ears. She walked among the loveliness she made, a pillar that reminds me that joys are to be cherished. My cultivation for writing, reading and the perfect cup of tea were gifts she blessed me with. I never witnessed her selecting a recipe from a cookbook. Her body, crippled horribly from a lifetime of rheumatoid arthritis, knew its way around every cupboard, pot, pan, every spice and herb in her kitchen. To this day I can still feel my fingertips outline the flower petals of the vintage white chrysanthemum tablecloth. Scented candles, freshly cut roses placed at the center of the dining room table, and the irresistible aromas wafting from the kitchen fill my nose. Sight held extraordinary meaning as I looked out a small north-facing window over the kitchen sink where the sky was visible. Glimpses of the plumbago bush covered with sticky light blue flowers awaited. The old-fashioned glider that offered refuge from the sun and warmth on cool evenings provided that special place for family talks. The clothesline gained personality as the years went on, and the treehouse nestled within the tamarack tree held my secret dreams. Most importantly, the rose garden, my grandmother’s earthly paradise mixed with tall purple bearded iris, remained the one true magical spot in the backyard. Mom was a 6-foot-tall strong and determined woman. I admired her love of music, dance, the moon, the struggle and the spirit, herself and those striking looks – stiletto heels, red polish and lipstick. She did not waste a moment of life. Returning home after work, most evenings were filled with Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” and other favorites on the Magnavox Hi-Fi. These instrumental pieces drifted through every inch of the house, awakening a desire to have someone teach me how to dance. Taste was the topic that started all conversations. The best thing about the stove was the warming oven. There were always leftover pinches of cinnamon dough, oatmeal raisin cookies and jars of homemade jam nearby. The aroma of every spice my grandmother used gave me an in-depth appreciation of flavors. Pork chops, stew, spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, potato salad, quiche, cheesecake – there’s no denying that dormant fragments of our past come back in vivid color through taste. The five senses are fundamental in how we experience and understand the world. Sensory input can evoke a wide range of emotions, from happiness and joy to fear and sadness. Everyone’s experiences are unique and how we taste a favorite food or hear a comforting melody can play a role in creating memories, behaviors, sense of identity, understanding of who we are, and how we empathize and connect with others. The world is endlessly complex, but reality depends on us, the way we see it, and what we choose to cherish and hold dear. Food is at the heart of so many of our senses, not only a part of family celebrations, but in the sharing of recipes and their memories which hold special poignancy. Food is unifying and helps us learn about our history and culture. There’s nothing better than a treasured recipe that has become a keepsake passed down from generation to generation and reminds us of a special person. After my grandmother and mother passed away, I became the owner of years of dogeared newspaper and magazine recipes, some mere scraps of paper blotched with food stains and fingerprints, others handwritten recipes from family and friends. I had become “the keeper” of a lifetime of my family’s food memories. Decades later, I had no idea that within that small wooden box voices could still be heard, and tears could still be shed. The time has come to add my own recipes. An ode to Mother’s Day: When life was simple and made sense Thyme in My Kitchen BY SHERRY KLUSMAN thyme.in.my.kitchen • 1 ½ lb. ground beef • 1 ½ lb. ground pork • 1 tbsp. dried parsley • 1 tbsp. chopped chives • 2 tbsp. olive oil • 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce • 1 tsp. black pepper • 1 tsp. mushroom powder • 2 tsp. horseradish sauce • 2 tsp. sea salt • ½ tsp. rosemary powder • ½ tsp. thyme powder • ½ tsp. poultry seasoning • ½ tsp. ground sage • ½ tsp. garlic powder • 1 cup diced sweet onions • 1 cup diced celery • 2/3 cup whole milk • 2/3 cup quick oatmeal • 2 extra large eggs, slightly beaten 1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 2. Add onions, chives and celery, stirring occasionally until translucent – not browned. 3. Stir in the rosemary and thyme and cook. Remove from the heat to cool. 4. In another large bowl mix together both meats and the rest of the ingredients. 5. Add vegetable mixture halfway through and mix. 6. Shape and place on a rimmed baking sheet or in individual loaf pans. 7. Bake for approximately 55-60 minutes. 8. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. SHERRY’S MEATLOAF RECIPE COOKBOOK: “The Perfect Ingredient” by Bryn Williams NOVEL: “Mozart’s Starling” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt RECIPE: Meatloaf MAY RECOMMENDATIONS

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