Where did I learn this?

There are some lessons that stand out in your memory as the day I learned to -------. But there are lots of other things that you know how to do but you have no idea where you picked up the lesson. I learned early on to never, ever put my hand or arm on my paper when I was writing. I am left handed, need I say more. For years I have given my Mom credit for my ability to quickly clean shrimp. Turns out she never cleaned shrimp, opened oysters but did not clean shrimp. After much thought I think my shrimp cleaning improvements have come from Martha, thank you for suggesting running water to keep my knife clean while I devein the shrimp. Cleaning corn is another mystery. I have never found a way to deliver silkless corn to the table.

I think the corn brush just combs the little silk strands and helps them lay down and hide between the kernels. Sage advice welcome.

Shoes

I have had a long running love affair with shoes. Some women remember great dates or great places, I remember great shoes. Most of the shoes are heels but there are two pairs of flats that are nestled in my memory. The dark blue with green trim Papagallos and the Weegun penny loafers. There was the wonderful blue pair with brown toes and a bow, the red patent leather heels that had a little sparkle, green shoes and blue shoes - wonderful, faithful shoes. My waist might get bigger, hips may spread, diets wars won, lost and battled again, but there waiting for me, always in my size, always a perfect fit are shoes. Everytime I have moved (and there have been many) I cull through the boxes and discard the ones that are no longer in fashion or have seen better days. It is always hard to let them go, but there are limits. So what prompted this confession -



There is a pair of Italian heels in the back seat of my car left there by my daughter after an event. They made me think of all of the shoes that faithfully waited in their boxes for their turn at the dance.