Meet My Family of Delicious Food
March 27, 2010
Lucky me! Several years ago I met a wonderful and adorable young woman named Samar whose family originates in Jerusalem. I’ve always been fascinated and enchanted by ancient cultures, particularly those of the Mediterranean. I love the food, the smells, the colors, the textures, the language. I love it all!
Samar and I become very close. As I was helping her find direction in life, she would regale me with stories about her family and their culture. I was amazed. I come from a very small family and she has over 300 family members. I wanted that!
Seeing the perfect opportunity to bring something great into my life, I asked her straight out if her family would adopt me.
She said that they would and I took her at her word. And you know what? It’s turned out to be totally true. Three years later, I am totally part of the family and I love it.
Her mother who is a total gem too. She makes the most delicious food in the whole world. Honestly, I’m NOT exaggerating. She is someone whom I would love to learn every little secret about life and cooking from.
Picture this – a table spread with exotic riced, home-made hummus creamy as butter, olives and homemade pickles of different kinds, delicious pita bread which is often homemade, vegetables, sometimes chicken or fish…..you get the idea!
A bounty of delicious, savory and exotic food. It’s exotic in taste, smell, color, texture – truly a delight of the senses.
Oh and that’s not all. That’s not even the half of it. After we eat there is always tea. But this is not just any tea. This is the most delicious tea in the world. I don’t know how she makes it. She makes it look so simple but my tea never tastes like this. It’s Mamma’s special blend.
She makes mint tea, ginger tea, sage tea and cardamon tea, always served in the most beautiful glass cups with just a hint of sugar. They are so amazing and delicious and the smell is absolutely to die for!
I just sit, smell and sip to my heart’s desire. Ahhh…..this is life at it’s best.
But we’re not just finished with tea. As if that wasn’t totally enough, then we have her very special hand ground coffee. Yes as you guessed this is not just any old coffee. It’s a very fine ground that she combines with just a hint of cardamom. It is dark, thick and rich like dark chocolate and comes served in the most beautiful gold edged cup. 
What could be better than this??? Nothing.
I leave their house feeling full, happy, loved, nourished and as if I just took a trip to an exotic foreign country. Ahh, life is good.
I always wanted to be part of a big family, but I never expected this unexpected bit of grace. So I am happy to say that I am part of a 300 member family who really knows how to make some amazing food!
One day I’ll learn myself and then share some of the secrets with you. Everyone should have a Mamma and a family like this. I send a big hug out to my loving, good-cooking family of good food.
Stories of Outstanding People: Pastor Tim
November 23, 2009
I have a good friend whom I met many years ago at Starbucks. I would pass him on the way to the ladies room and I was always curious about what he was doing. He was writing in a bible with these multi-colored highlighter pens and I thought to myself, “What a cool guy. He must be a priest.”
So I stopped to talk to him. I love interesting people and I had never before heard of a clergy person using multi-colored highlighter pens on their bible. Maybe it’s a trend but I just don’t know about, but at any rate it was enough to get me to meet the fascinating and hilarious Pastor Tim.
Tim started right in telling me some stories and boy were they funny. I was laughing so hard right there in Starbucks that I thought I was going to split my side. When I met him, he had only been at his parish for a year or two he was at the beginnings of his difficult work.
Tim works in a small Lutheran church in the heart of a very difficult neighborhood in Philly. I could tell that Tim was totally dedicated to what he’s doing and yet I could also see that he was really struggling. Tim didn’t just have one problem or even two, he had multiple ones, often occurring at the same time!
One week Tim had a series of disastrous incidents one right after another – the copier broke, the heating went out and a few other things showed up. Tim had solved them one by one but when the last one showed up, he was at his wits end. Things seemed totally insurmountable.
Not knowing what else to do, Tim got down on his knees and begged for help from above. After he was finished, he got up from his prayer and took a break by retreating to the men’s room. What could go wrong there right?
Tim took his time in the ‘bathroom sanctuary’ not wanting to rush his few short moments of peace and quiet. On his way out he decided to leave it in a better state than he’d found it, so he grabbed a can of deodorizer and gave it a nice refreshing spray around the room. Nice gesture right?.
But instead of coming out like aerosol mist, the deodorizer which had obviously been around far too long, sprayed all over the walls just like gummy string cheese!
Tim took one took at the wall and knew instantly what to do. He laughed out loud and promptly walked out, leaving behind a wonderful new art piece for the parish bathroom!
Whenever I see Tim he always makes me laugh. Even though I know that it is not easy keeping his tiny parish afloat, Tim always has a funny story to tell. I keep telling him he needs to write up his stories. But since he’s so busy, I thought I’d tell one for him. He has plenty more.
And if you’re ever in Starbucks in Philly and see a guy with a colored up bible, stop and say hi, it just might be Pastor Tim – the pastor with the big heart and the amazing sense of humor.
Today use the power of humor in your own life to create a new story even in the midst of the greatest challenges.
Outstanding People Stories: Meet Chuck Hester
November 9, 2009
In the world of online marketing and networking what I don’t need is one more sales pitch – the all-too-common, “Hey, I have a great offer for you” greeting that many people on the social networks use makes me want to recycle my lunch.
That’s why I was delighted when I read the refreshing new book by Chuck Hester. In all 54 pages of his tiny treasure, he never once tried to sell me anything! He didn’t even try to sell me the book because I found out about it through my reliable mentor Bea Fields.
So friends, I’d like you to meet wonderful human being Chuck Hester. Chuck is changing the dynamics in online social networking with his pay it forward approach to connecting.
Chuck’s book, “Linking In To Pay It Forward” with the byline, “this is not your Daddy’s business book,” shares Chuck’s unique approach to creating a social network by asking the simple question, “How can I be of service to you?”
It’s a small enjoyable book that I read in an evening. But what is most outstanding about the book is not so much what Chuck says, but his philosophy to life and business. Believe it or not folks, Chuck actually believes in sharing with people in the online business world, not to get, but to give.
I’m not just talking about that kind of ‘let me pretend to give you something so I can really get something from you’ mentality. You know the one I’m talking about?
That’s not Chuck. No. When I read his book I could feel that he is genuine. I was so happy to find this philosophy that I reached out and emailed Chuck the very next morning. He says in the back of his book to please contact him and after reading his book, so I did.
Chuck wrote me right back with a lovely note and we struck up the beginning of a genuine connection. I love that!
Chuck is definitely making a difference in the world with his philosophy. He applies the concept of paying it forward, which means to do good things for others without expecting anything in return. As a master networker, he uses this in the world of social networking and he’s had amazing results.
In a world where it seems that everyone is out to get something, Chucks pay it forward philosophy stands out in the crowd. I believe that this is the wave of the future and it can’t be faked. You’ve got to truly mean it and I believe Chuck does.
Chuck and his wife Stephanie have hosted Linkedin Live Raleigh, a networking event that regularly attracts more than 350 professionals and helps others to pay it forward in person. It’s obvious that people really want and need the power of genuine human connection.
He has a wonderful blog, the Pay It Forward Chronicles where he shares his stories of paying it forward. Chuck has generated a network of 9,500 contacts on LinkedIn alone and whenever he goes to a new city, he often meets one of his LinkedIn contacts in person. He helps us to see that it truly is a small and connected world.
Chuck thank you for the difference you are making in the world of social media. You bring back the heart and humanness which we all need.
I hope you will join Chuck and I on my Radio Show next Friday, November 20th at 12:30 pm EST at www.blogtalkradio.com/inspiringchangethroughstory.
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