A Honey of a
SUMMER “Look what I found,” I exclaimed as I held out my newly discovered treasure for my husband and friends to see. The behemoth of a salt jar was nestled beneath other antiques in the store where we were shopping. It was covered in dust; who knows how long it had been sitting there, overlooked by many a shopper who had no interest. It was as if it were waiting on me to claim it. So I did, and had it packed up carefully to bring home to Ohio on the plane from California. Ever since the launch of Salt magazine, I have especially had an eye out for interesting salt shakers. I felt like I hit the mother lode with this one. Just goes to show you that you can find treasure in the midst of what others would regard as discards — one man’s trash is another’s treasure. It takes good intentions to find the best in what might be wrong. As I write this column for our summer edition of Salt with the theme of “A Honey of a Summer,” my left foot is propped and elevated because I broke it several weeks ago. The doctor-prescribed boot has been like dragging around a ball and chain. I also encountered some painful dental work and have been diagnosed with strep throat. Still, I am determined to have a “honey of a summer.” I know all of these things are temporal and are only like the gnats and mosquitoes that try to steal away the joy of a summer evening. I am not going to let these aggravations dictate my emotions. I found an even greater treasure on that recent trip to California. We were there to witness and celebrate my stepson, Joshua Stricker, graduating from the University of Southern California. We planned a side trip to Fresno after the graduation to reconnect with my childhood friends. We grew up together in Japan, all children of missionaries. It had been more 40 years since we had been together. We were so close growing up and our parents were best friends, but what would it be like after so many years? My husband, Jerry, had never even met them. The reunion turned out to be a wonderful time and treasure. I can’t explain the precious knitting of our hearts and spirits that happened. We shed tears over the lost years between us, as well as the loss of some of our parents, but we also laughed together and basked in the joy of being together again. I hope you have a honey of a summer… that you will take time to find the hidden treasures that may have collected dust. That you will take time to enjoy the sunset, the hummingbird drinking at the feeder… But I also pray you will nourish your relationships. We all could use a little “friend” therapy. Be intentional about giving encouragement to others. Our words can be like honey to another’s soul.
Pamela Stricker, Publisher pstricker@ohcommedia.com
Salt | Summer 2011 | 7
It’s not too late to make this “a honey of a summer.”