texas toast and texting

Me and my favorite boys. 

It can be so easy to forget the connections we have with other people, maybe because of distance, or time, or lack of communication.....but they're always there. And sometimes, a reminder comes right when we need it most. 

Today I was in the supermarket, and being that my last paycheck was mailed on thursday, and I haven't received it yet, I was really down. (our last paycheck isn't directly deposited, for some unknown reason). So I was trolling the aisles, looking for something familiar to eat that would bring some comfort. And for some reason, I found myself in the frozen food section, staring at Texas toast. Now, for those of you who don't know what this is, let me explain. Because before fall of 2006, I had no idea, either. It's thick garlic bread-type slices of bread, with a yummy mix of butter, garlic, and cheese on top. It is SO good, and SO bad for you. But I had never really eaten it before, until I babysat for Jonel and Michael. The boys loved it, so I would make it for them. So I grabbed a box of it today, and had 3 slices for lunch. As I was heating it up, the toaster oven smelled like it was burning, and I thought back to one of my first days nannying - if not the first day - when I nearly set their kitchen on fire trying to make the damn Texas toast. So I sent Michael a text today about texas toast, and hours later, I get this text back: Remember during your training when it caught fire and we put the toaster oven outside on the bricks? the boys still tell that story. Sad, but true. We had to put the toaster oven outside because it was smoking and everything. Great first impression, huh? I think I took care of that when C got a bloody nose from B going down the slide the first day I met the kids. I'm sure this just added to my Mary Poppins persona. So I texted back that by the end of my time with them, I became a good cook, thanks to them.....and get this text back: Good is one of those relative, subjective terms. Ha ha, point taken, Michael. In all seriousness, I did learn how to cook lots of stuff. And I have many good memories of kitchen lessons and mishaps. But seriously, today was one of those days where I felt very un-anchored, very....not quite homesick, because this is my home now, but I wished that more people I knew were down here, instead of up North. And getting that text made my day. Even if it did highlight my lack of cooking expertise. 

And it just reminded me, that even when we don't think so, we are always tied to those we care about. Maybe when we feel least connected, is when we need to remind ourselves that we are more connected than we know. I've blogged before about how lucky I am to know this family - and even now, when I didn't get into UNC, Jonel was the first person, besides my grandparents and my parents, to find out - and one of the few who saw me in tears over it. During the NCAA tournament, I was waging bets with Chase and Jonel over who would win.....btw, I think I'm owed a cocktail! ;)  In the midst of all this uncertainty of jobs and graduation and moving, this was something that grounded me. Thanks, guys.