What do you say we make up a new euphemism for helping others out? We’re letting them “float in our froth”. That works, doesn’t it? All this love smothering in warm, frothy mochaccino love is today’s theme.
Everyone has a time they can remember when people helped them out and I am no exception. There was a time that my own two kids at the time weren’t going to have a Christmas and I mentioned to the babysitter that “…We’ll just focus on the true meaning of Christmas this year and bake the baby Jesus a birthday cake“. Which, you know, some people just can NOT handle. Invoking the baby Jesus and all when you’re looking rather pathetic with a 5 year old and an infant on your hip after pulling an all-nighter for final exams.
She wasn’t having any of that! No, no, no. She brought over gifts for all of us that year. A truckload. Literally. She drove up in her husband’s pickup truck with four other women who had all shopped in St. Louis on a trip and they picked up presents for us. Speechless doesn’t even begin to describe my response to her. Actually, some things really did come out of my mouth but they were all “Umm…wha..?…aaahhh.” and then I just bit my quivering lip until she enveloped me in her arms and I turned into a puddle of mush.
Angela from Fluid Pudding has helped me with my response back to you. She is lovely and frothy and someday we’ll meet again (I introduced myself to her at BlogHer and she didn’t think I had that cultish look about me) and I can report on how yummy she is. I’ll bet she smells like a pineapple upsidedown cake.
I’m certain she doesn’t smell like a turducken, but that’s just a guess. It was also a very lame segue, but we’re going with it, ok?
Recently, my officemate told me that she and her son do a cookoff every year with whatever holiday meat they’ve decided to feature. Her son’s doing some sort of fillet and she ordered a Cajun turducken.
Her: It’s going to be our very first turducken. I’m so excited!
Me: What the fucken’s a turducken?
Good times in my office. At least it got us thinking about having a little holiday cheer for the teachers and we’re going to bake for them this week. Where is all this domesticity coming from in me? Why do I want to put on an apron right now and listen to The Ultimate Tony Bennett CD? Where did my mojito mojo go?
I’ll get the mojo back once this week is over and I’ve shopped for the kids. Then, I can focus on mojito making. In the meantime, I’ve got a full cuppa Mocha right now.
You see those people pouring love into my Mocha cup? That’s you. All of you. Just opening up and pouring out and doing so willingly. Do you see those three kids in the cup? That’s Donnell and Christian and Tiffany. You’re pouring love on TOP of them! How nice of you! They all smell coffee-flavored for some reason. They’re floating in my froth. Our froth. Thanks for whipping it up with me.
December 18, 2006 @ 6:01 am | Filed under Artsy Fartsy, Help A Brutha Out | Permalink |
javajabber Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 6:33 am
WE had turducken for Thanksgiving this year. First time, too.
It was decidedly different. A bit spicy but very succulent. We were very surprised at how delicious it really was.
But, we still missed our traditional turkey with stuffing. I should say The Hubster missed it. I didn’t miss fixing it and then finding room in the fridge to store leftovers!
VENTL8R Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 7:54 am
That’s way too much meat, a turducken. Though the concept is quite appealing. As I’m having Christmas in OUR NEW HOUSE this year I have decided to try my hand at a standing rib roast. Steve said he’s going to buy me a digital thermometer for Christmas, just like Alton Brown’s!
That Alton Brown, he’s a keeper ya know!
Nothing says Christmas love like a thermometer!
Dave2 Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 8:39 am
Wow… Angela even got my Helly/Hansen baseball cap in there! It so totally looks just like me!
Miranda Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 9:45 am
I want to be the one with the totally 80’s side ponytail–haha!
Seriously though? Love the “float in our froth” concept.
Hilly Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 11:21 am
Kevin told me that I should come over and say hello and I am so glad that I did! I have had no holiday spirit yet this year and this put me in a great mood.
Siobhan Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 11:49 am
So what do you serve with Turducken? Cranberry sauce? Duck sauce or gravy? Maybe you blend it all and drink it. Yum.
Mocha Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
javajabber - I heard it was spicy. I’d probably like it.
VENTL8R - Who is this Alton Brown? Should I know him? Does he come to your house and cook for you?
Dave2 - I know. She’s really good, isn’t she? Hey… I commissioned a drawing from you before, too. I’m getting like an art gallery or something.
Miranda - Ok, that’s you. But you have to submit a photo of you with the side ponytail for it to really count.
Hilly - Did you see all the nice things people did? They made my day. My year, in fact. Glad you’re in on the mood now.
Siobhan - You really wouldn’t need a side, would you? That’s THREE KINDS OF MEAT. Geez.
Janice Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
You’re welcome.
Can I just say that I really miss Siobhan’s blog? I miss your blog Siobhan and congrats on the new wee addition arriving soon.
Miranda Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Uhh, ok, I don’t really want to be that specific one THAT bad…
Mocha Momma Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 2:01 pm
Janice - You’re more than welcome to speak to Siobhan here! I miss her, too. But recently, we got to chat. I just wish it were in real life again - have you heard her adorable Scottish sounds? *swoon
Miranda - Chicken.
Miranda Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 4:05 pm
Bully.
Bully Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 5:39 pm
Beautiful post! I am new to your site here, but everything I have seen of you thus far is wonderful.Frothy, and wonderful.
I had a single mom friend that had a particularly bad year one year, and so I made sure that at least my small box of stuff would be there for them. It was a little thing, mostly of love, but she said she never would forget it. On the bow, I attached one of those ornaments that had the silhouette of a mother and one child–and it was her favorite part of the gift.
Like you, she’s doing well now in life, and I knew she would be of course(and am glad). Maybe it’s those thoughtful times that we carry with us though, that help warm us thru the years.
Mocha Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
I’m kinda cracking up because the very next person’s name was Bully! HA. That’s also a little strange….
Bully - You hit on the very thing that people have commented on here about paying it forward. Those thoughtful times are still with me. That baby on my hip? He’s 15 now.
Caffeinated Librarian Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
Ummmm. *sigh* I hate to break up the love fest with my dirty mind but…
“Mocha Love”
“float in our froth”
“how yummy she is”
“mojito mojo” (Which, if that’s not a porn name, I’m a turducken)
“people pouring love into my Mocha cup”
I just can’t even continue…Kelly, honey, is this a Christmas post or a LateNite Showtime movie? *sigh* I gotta get back to dating.
Now that I’ve totally ruined the Christmas spirit going around, I’ll say I love the idea behind this post of paying it forward. And I love the idea of a birthday cake for Jesus! Why hadn’t I ever thought of that, it’s BRILLENT! Religious, symbolic, and you get to eat cake!
*mwah* Love ya, you genius woman.
Mrs RW Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 9:29 pm
I think I’m the person with the growing-out hairdo. I’m glad there’s a river of froth making its way to southern Illinois. I hope you and kids float for a long time.
RWA Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
You do know you rock, right? That’s why people read this thing and help out with your incredibly generous ideas.
Lady M Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 10:09 pm
I love that drawing!
I think I said this earlier, but my Mom Group got together to adopt two single-mom families for the holidays, and we put all the gifts together this weekend. It was so exciting to see the shared love, and I hope the families are just as excited to open the presents.
Elizabeth Said,
December 18, 2006 @ 11:16 pm
“What the fucken’s a turducken?”
BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
BIg Mike Said,
December 19, 2006 @ 4:47 am
Any food that starts with turd has got to be full of healthy nutrients and overflowing with flavour. Especially if you’re a fly.
Dana Said,
December 19, 2006 @ 9:37 pm
I love that drawing. It’s awesome!
DavidShag Said,
December 22, 2006 @ 7:38 am
I like especially, when you related the tale of the babysitter’s generosity, that you were grateful and open. Some people feel affronted or embarrassed when they are given a kindness, and that is a really unpleasant response to generosity. I remember a number of times when people helped out when I was young. My dad was out of work one Christmas, and one morning there was a bushel basket of the most wonderful Christmas foods on the porch - a big ham and all kinds of good stuff - and not just healthy, good-for-you stuff, but real Christmas food. Truly generous people (such as yourself) seem to give gifts to the spirit as well as to the flesh. And, as you demonstrate, gifts like these tend to act almost like loans, since the recipients so commonly pass on the kindness when their circumstances improve.