Traverse City Record-Eagle

Sally Ketchum: In The Kitchen

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December 21, 2008

In the Kitchen: Two hopping tales

By SALLY KETCHUM

These are two different tales, but they have similar settings -- crowded stores, big bargains, accidents and endings.

Therein lies the tale, a message: The ends are far different.

The first story you know -- a Wal-mart store employee opening the doors is trampled to death by frenzied shoppers seeking bargains.

The second one involves people's reactions.

Recently, I managed to fall in a spectacular heels-over-head flight that ended with a loud smack on my back on a large grocery store floor. This fall was an accident. Truly no one was to blame. In fact people were trying to help people.

The grocery store was crowded and bustling. A newspaper insert had announced a huge sale, an early gift to shoppers because grocery prices are so high. With foods and kitchen goods flying off the shelves, employees were conscientiously stocking, replenishing the shelves, working hard unloading crates, moving loaded carts and dollies.

A senior citizen (even more senior than me) approached me in a back corner of the store, asking for help finding a Milky Way ice cream syrup. I'd never heard of this topping.

A helpful stocker nearby joined us to search. While he was checking the shelf of syrups in front of us, a second stocker arrived and put his crates (one empty, one full) down against a wall. The tight corner was becoming more crowded than cozy with the shopping carts and us. So, seeking elbow room, I stepped backward and into heavy stocking equipment that was, properly, against the wall.

The equipment blocked my step. Somehow I had nowhere to go but up. It was comparable, I believe, to Superman's first flight -- up, up, and away. But my trajectory was up, up and over to land flat on my back. Amazingly, although my teeth were jarred loose, I recovered with only large bruises. I repeat this misadventure because of the very different responses from the crowds at the Wal-mart tragedy and at my grocery store.

The store employees immediately acted as good Samaritans. They were not only concerned, but also they knew how to handle the situation. The shoppers, intelligently, backed off. No gawkers were there to get in the way. Immediately, at least four or five employees came to help me and assess the damage. "Are you hurt badly?" "Are you OK?" "Where do you hurt?" "Do you want to sit up?" "Do you want us to call a doctor?" One took my name and address on a clipboard for records. I think he was also taking notes on the scene in case they were needed later. Another helped when I was ready to sit up, about 20 minutes later, and then stand.

Finally, these employees went through checkout for me, and two men escorted me, arm in arm, one also pushing my cart, to my car. They loaded the bags into my car and talked to me a while there, too, to ascertain that not only did I want to go home, but also that I would be able to drive home safely. They seriously cautioned me to drive alertly and slowly.

Both accidents involved sales, crowded stores, stocking and employees trying to be helpful. Yet how different these stories ended. They ended because of the desperate hurry of the mall crowd. My fall ended happily because people cared and took time to respond appropriately and slowly.

The lesson is that all of us might slow down, even in our kitchens. The usual 100 cookies might become a few dozen with a very special carefully frosted one for each person in the family. The saved time might be for the family or for personal restoration of energy or peace. We might choose a simple holiday dessert that is aromatic in a Christmasy way -- as scents of clove and cinnamon waft from the oven (instead of a scented candle) and through the house. We might employ a slow cooker for the entree to have more time for the children or for Christmas reading. In the spirit of the holidays, all of us might slow down and cultivate patience. After all, isn't Advent a season of waiting and thoughtful preparation?

Patience, it seems to me, directly involves the ability to slow down -- such marvelous things are accomplished silently, slowly, patiently. A poinsettia bud opens to it full brilliance slowly. Children holding candles and singing "Silent Night" proceed slowly through the darkened church to the choir seats. And after weeks of watching the frenzy, things calm down for one evening, and then we remember a stable and not a store. Peace and goodwill to men.

Chocolate Truffles

3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (14-oz) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (not evaporated)

1 T. vanilla

In a large saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into medium bowl. Cover and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm. Shape into 1-inch balls and roll in desired coating and/or decorate with frosting of candies. Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. (Note: Make these soon. If flavored with a few drops of rum or other extracts, the flavors will slowly meld.)

-- Eagle Brand recipes

Sally Ketchum is a northern Michigan writer. Her latest book, "Bread Garden," is for middle readers. She can be reached through the Record-Eagle.

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