January news from Fillmore, Mississippi
Chocolate Meringue Pie Recipe included
It’s been a busy week in Fillmore, Mississippi, my hometown in the heart of the Mississippi Valley.
Stick around for the recipe at the bottom of this newsletter along with pictures!
The Fillmore Public Library fundraiser to build a new wing
The Fillmore Public Library is planning to have a book sale this spring but since they’re already low on books because not enough people are returning their checked out library books, the head librarian. Bobbie-Jane Mitz asks all Fillmorians to dig around in the garages and attics and storage units for any old books they are willing to donate to the library to sell. Apparently, the pipes at the library are about as old as the town and need replacing. It turns out that librarians and library patrons are used to using the indoor restroom facilities and enjoy running water to wash their hands and dishes and are not thrilled at the idea of using an outhouse on the back property of the library. It seems last year a family of raccoons moved into the outhouse and Mrs. Mitz says anyone trying to use the outhouse will first have to fight a bunch of territorial raccoons for access to the outhouse commode. Also she cannot vouch for the rabies status of the raccoon family. So please dig around for old books the library can sell to keep the water running. And bring in your overdue books. There’s a drive-thru drop box around the side of the library.
Goings on at the Lighthouse diner
Darleen Williams turned 30 the other day. Happy birthday, Darleen! She and her husband Fred have dinner at the Lighthouse Diner every Wednesday directly after work before going to their church activities meetings. Fred and Darleen attend Methodological Southern Baptist Church. Darleen is in the choir and Fred runs the Manly Men Who Love Jesus meeting. All day as various friends and coworkers wished Darleen a happy birthday, she pondered the significance of turning 30 when her mother had a heart attack at the age of 38. The head coach at the Healthy Heifers meeting yesterday had described Darleen as "pretty and plump" and while Fred liked Darleen's edges to be a bit rounded, Darleen worried she'd end up like her mother and die before she could see her son graduate high school.
This ponderance is what was on her mind at the Lighthouse when Miz Linda asked, " Do y'all know what you want today?"
Fred closed his menu and said, “Howdy Miz Linda, I’ll have a jumbo cheeseburger with fries.”
“Do you want bacon on your cheeseburger?”
Fred looked at Darleen and then at Linda, “No bacon for me, today.” Fred reached his hand across the table to squeeze Darleen’s hand, smiled at her and then said to Linda, “ We want to grow old together so we’re making healthier choices.”
Linda nodded and then looked to Darleen for her order, “What’ll ya have, hon?”
“Darleen looked up from her menu, took a deep breath as Fred nodded encouragingly at her and looked up at Linda and said, “Could I get a salad?”
“Sure, what do you want for your main?”
“Just a big salad, Miz Linda. A dinner plate size big salad. I know only a side salad is on the menu but is that ok?”
Mis Linda looked slightly panicked and stopped chewing her gum. “I’ll uh have to ask the kitchen. Be right back.” Linda patted Darleen’s arm as she turned and left. There was a hushed murmur throughout the restaurant. Even the cashier looked concerned. When she came back, Tim, The Lighthouse Diner’s head cook, came out from the kitchen. This order was getting serious.
“Linda says you want a salad for dinner? Just a little salad? You don’t like my cooking?”
Darleen gulped air and took a deep breath. “I love your cooking, Tim. I’m just trying to eat healthier. You know how my mama had a heart attack when she was 38. … And today’s my 30th birthday…” Darleen just let that last line hang in the air.
Tim’s face softened and his body relaxed. “Yes, I remember. Ms. Kendra was a real good woman.” Tim was silent for a moment then he said, “How about a big salad to fill the whole dinner plate?”
Darleen eagerly nodded, “Yes, that’s exactly what I want.”
Tim looked to Linda and he said, “Write it down as a Big Salad and I’ll tell the staff.” Then he looked at Darleen a little sad, “Do you want any meat on your salad? It’ll tide you through choir practice.”
Darleen looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes for a moment then looked to Tim and Linda and asked, still a little trepidatious, “Could I have a bit of chicken?”
Tim broke into a grin that spanned ear to ear and replied, “You sure can! We’ll go get started on it right now.” And walked back to the kitchen.
Linda looked up from her order pad now on firmer ground, “You still want ranch dressing, right?”
“Oh of course!” Darleen replied.
“I’ll go put your order in right now.” Linda said as she started walking toward the kitchen window. Fellow diners started discussing various topics touched on during the order such as the etiquette of ordering off the menu, how to stay healthy and live a long life and how much better Tim’s leg looked now that his sugars were better since Doc changed his diabetus medication.
When their meals arrived Fred was very pleased with his jumbo cheeseburger and Darleen’s “Big Salad” was a sight to behold. A beautiful bed of chopped iceberg lettuce, tomato wedges arranged like synchronized swimmers in a circle with chopped quarters of deep fried chicken tenders along the edge of the plate and the entire plate sprinkled with mild cheddar and thinly sliced red onion half crescents. On a separate small plate the salad was accompanied by a ramekin of homemade ranch dressing and a thick slice of grilled garlic toast. By the end of the meal Linda arrived to ask how everything tasted. Praises flowed from Fred and Darleen as they both pointed to their clean plates.
Linda looked straight into Darleen’s eyes and said, “ I know that you’re trying to be healthy but it’s your birthday only once a year and since I knew you was coming today I made your favorite Chocolate Meringue Pie. You’ll have a slice for me won’t you, birthday girl?”
Darleen smiled so big her eyes twinkled and nodded and laughed as she said, “Well, if you’re going to twist my arm, Miz Linda.”
Linda said, “Good” as she leaned back to aim her voice towards the kitchen to holler, “She said YES! Bring out the pie, y’all!”
Then the entire kitchen crew came out with Tim holding a slice of Chocolate Meringue Pie with a birthday candle in it as they walked towards Darleen and Fred’s table singing Happy Birthday. All the present diners joined in the song and several friends and family stood with the staff while a few older folks immediately walked to the cashier’s desk to whisper-argue over who would get the honor to pay for Darleen and Fred’s meal. I’m happy to say that Darleen’s second cousin, Mrs. Eliza Doomsey who is also one of the best beloved 5th grade teachers in Fillmore won the sprint and plunked down cash. Then told the runner-up he could pick up Linda’s tip. Beauty and determination won over age and wisdom this time, I suppose
New Reverend at St. Thelma’s Episcopal Church
There’s a new rector down at the Episcopal Church, Reverend Matthew Upson-Downs. He’s got some controversial ideas he’s trying to implement in a church that is considered by most local Southern Baptists to be “A stronghold of liberalism” that exists in a land of nostalgic perspectives and even older values. It seems Rev Upson-Downs believes women shouldn’t be as deeply involved in the day-to-day runnings of the church as they currently are. Specifically, he’s told the women (and Buck) of the “Leavening For Christ” group that their volunteer work to clean the sanctuary and manage the nursery during services will no longer be needed. When the leaveners objected the revend said they’ll still be “allowed” to bake goodies to be served at the “Coffee & Goodies” between Sunday services, but they’re no longer needed to prepare or serve any food or drink as the men’s group “Working Wood with Jesus” will now be expected to take care of that. This has been an unwanted surprise for the woodworkers as they mostly sit around on Tuesday evenings in Randy’s garage and shed drinking beers and discussing the characteristics of different kinds of woods. Or at least that is what they tell their wives when they are picked up from Randy’s house.
Good luck to the woodworkers and leveners/bakers in whatever manner they choose to serve The Lord and their community. I’ll be sure to keep you informed as this story develops.
Sugar is not lost, she’s just very friendly
The manager over at the Piggly Wiggly has put up a sign on one of the windows near the shopping cart corral and entrance that Sugar, the local dog is not lost. She’s just very social and super smart at escaping her enclosures at her owner’s home. Sugar likes to walk around the town looking for treats and pettings while her owner is at work. She has been spotted at various Fillmore hangouts and seems to understand how to look both ways before crossing the street as well and she will wait at street lights for a human to escort her across busy intersections.
The Fillmore dogcatcher has asked for everyone to please stop calling him about Sugar as he’s not going to trap her since her owner signs the towns payroll and he likes to get paid regular.
Fillmore’s Busy Bees are fundraising for Disney
The Busy Bees want to go to Disney this summer and are asking everyone to give them yard work and handy jobs to help them save up for a trip to Disney. Mrs. Jerome, the Busy Bees troop leader also told me that you can make a donation in someone else’s honor if you’d like to help an elderly neighbor or older friend who may need some help this winter clearing out crawl spaces under homes or garages and sheds with possible snake infestations. Winter is an ideal time to clean up if you’re worried about creepy crawlies.