Laid off

Because of our recent move, I had to lay off one of my faithful servants. Though sad to part from her, I am thankful not to have to pay unemployment benefits, for she was quickly hired to clean someone else's pots and pans.

This past week as I scrubbed the dishes, I got to thinking of her and you know, especially now that the weather is getting cooler, I really don't miss her all that much. What's so bad about washing the dishes in hot sudsy water myself?

But that got me thinking about the other servants in my kitchen that I really don't ever want to fire or have quit or go on strike like:

The Kitchenaid~ Kneading bread by hand may be wonderful exercise, but I'm quite happy to let her keep it all to herself. Besides the bread tastes so much better when she helps me make it.

Miss Krups: the espresso queen~ She was added to our employ last Christmas and my do we love her! Her coffee is delightful and she's always bright and cheery in the morning--ready to get to work to make us bright and cheery too.

The popcorn popper~ Rosalind makes sure she never gets bored (and would've polished off five bowls of popcorn this morning if I'd let her). Of course, I love her too since her popcorn is so nice and healthy (and cheap!).

And then there's all the ones who serve me faithfully that I so often take for granted:

My frigid maid: I really don't know what I'd do without her! We certainly wouldn't get to have milk very often and that would be sad, really sad.

The oven and stove: Cooking over a fire may be fun for one night, while camping, but what wonderful service she does-day in and day out.

And the list could go on and on...like running indoor water and the blender and heat and.... but these are five of my very favorite. So as I hear again and again about the economic crisis we're facing, I realize just how much I have to be grateful for. So much that I usually take for granted.