Thanks, Mom.

You know, there aren't too many things that I'm snobby about. I mean, I don't mind getting dirty, and playing rough, and I'll cheer for the team as loud as the boys (maybe louder)...but I definitely love good food. I blame my cursed palliate on my mother. She could even tell the difference between the Food Lion brand butter and Land o Lakes. Not margarine, just the store brand butter.

I say cursed, because it's hard for me to enjoy things like store bought cookies, or things that are served with margarine instead of butter. At the wine tasting I like the $20 bottle the best. And of course fillet Mignon is my favorite. There is definitely a difference between good coffee and bad coffee. And I'm especially particular about desserts. When she passed on this palliate, she definitely did not know how little money I would have to live on!

Sometimes, I even let little statements slip out that hint at my disapproval. Or even, yes, politely ask the wait staff if I don't like something because it's not done "the way I like it" may I exchange it for something else. Awful, I know.

Another trait that I was passed on by both mother and father was their blatant friendliness, and almost obnoxiously outgoing personalities. You're shocked, I know. I smile at the children walking by me, and usually wave and say something. I say hello to the people in the elevator and ask how they're doing today. I converse with the cashiers about whatever, and usually know the names of the people behind counters, whether they like it or not.

Today, these two traits were really fun to have as "problems".

I went into Great Harvest Bread Company, and to my surprise, they had their amazing White Chocolate Cherry bread. Now, in the past, this bread has only been sold in February for Valentine's day, but not throughout the remainder of the year. This past Feb. I never got a chance to have this delicious treat, which was so sad. All of that said, I was extremely excited to see that they had it. Usually, I'm not a big cherry or white chocolate fan. If I had to pick, dark chocolate is my favorite, and cherries just aren't usually for me. HOWEVER, this bread is amazing. Have I said that already? So delicious.

I go into the bread store to buy some bread for our trip coming up, and I say hello to Rick (the guy behind the counter, of course) and am deciding what to get, when I see the White Chocolate Cherry up on the board as a bread for the day. So, I start saying how delicious that bread is, and how excited I am to see it, since it's not Feb. But, because it's soooo good, it's also pretty expensive, as far as bread goes. I think it's probably their priciest one (go figure!). So, I'm sitting there kind of thinking and trying to justify why I NEED to get the white chocolate cherry bread, when all of a sudden the lady beside me bursts out in a most southern and boisterous voice,

"Did you not think you had died and gone to heaven the first time you tried it?!!? I mean, it's the most delicious bread, it makes me sooo happy! Let's split it! Wouldn't that just be perfect? You pay for it in here, and get your card stamped, and I'll give you half the money outside. I can't eat a whole loaf, I just want a little bit. Wouldn't that just be wonderful! Honey, I'm not kidding, I mean that bread is Divine! Rick, tell her I wouldn't lie to her!"

"No she wouldn't lie to you," says Rick.

"Here, Rick, you take the loaf cut it in half, and put it in 2 bags, and we'll split it. Do you want to?" this friendly stranger says, while side hugging me, her new best friend.

So, after a few minutes of loud laughter and talking, causing trouble in the bread store, we introduced ourselves, and talked about where we lived, and how it truly was the best bread, and how if we ever met again, we should split another loaf, and how we had found our new best bread friend. It was great.

I love meeting people who live life out loud. Not that that's the best way to live, because even I would go insane if we were all like that. But, sometimes it's just fun to meet people who remind me of me, and remind me of my sweet mama. Who remind me that it's ok to be loud and boisterous, and who smile and laugh a lot. And who remind me that it's good to get excited about the little things in life. Like good bread and new friendly faces.

Thanks, Mom, for showing me how to love the little things in life.