Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver, the other is gold. This concept is no secret to most of us. Such are the friends at one Christmas gathering that I go to. This has continued for over 10 years; what once was just an idea from its hostess to meet and reconnect, after she had retired and missed us, is now a “not to be missed” event.
This gathering is a basic potluck where all of us come back together, because we were so bonded when we worked side by side. So many miracle moments, joining us, to make this day each year a magical event.
I started working at Shore Memorial Hospital, in the mother-baby department in 1998. Getting to know the day shift for a bit, then going on the night shift that I was hired for. The nurses and techs and clerks and the doctors and midwives had respect, trust and a friendly and professional attitude from the start, and quickly I would become close-knit with all of them. There was human concern for one another (after all, we are in the caring business). There was always a great sense of caring for each of us, during the joys and sorrows of life. A special friendship with each other.
At Christmas “AT WORK” we would have a Pollyanna, or decorating contest, or do a singalong, bringing snacks and having the joy of being together. A bonus at Christmas and holidays, getting to do work, caring for babies.
So, Pat had an idea. For us to come to her house, and see, and hug, and reminisce with each other. And talk about children and weddings, and travels, and even health issues and sad and bad issues, and of course take time to sit and eat together. And yes, to pray together and thank the Lord for having the feelings of belonging and sharing long friendships with this fine group.
Some of us were still working, and some of us had moved away, and some had moved back, and yet still belonged to the group. And some people text their regrets and good wishes on that day, just to stay in touch. It was and is important to go if you could. Even workers from other departments were invited to come, our doctors and nursing supervisors came, and spouses sometimes joined us.
Now, over 10 years later, more of us have retired. And more of us have grandchildren (one of us has 30 grandchildren) and some of us are caring for our parents, and even some of us are now freer to come. In some years almost 30 people came, this year 21 have signed up. Food requests are divided into entrees, sides and desserts. And then decided, what you bring, by the letter of your last name and the alphabet (but Miss Edna is required, to bring a homemade cake). There is consistently a great variety of food, and a spectacular dessert table and enough to take some home if you wish.
Pat’s husband directs the parking, having secured the neighbors’ driveways for all the visitors’ cars. He helped to carry our things and direct us to their door. Also someone has to take the group photo, right!
Sometimes we collect food for a food bank, sometimes we do a gift swap where everyone passes the gifts they bring, to the right, when a certain word is said, as someone is reading “The Night Before Christmas.” We have even had a few birthdays celebrated during this gathering.
The sum of all those present makes us calmer, makes us grateful, helps us with having happiness and longevity. Those silver, and gold, friends are necessary.
I want to reflect on the great fortune that this group has, to have worked perfectly together for many years, to have bonded and loved each other through life’s ups and downs, to have a great hostess and host to open their home to us on the first Friday in December (and set it up for a crowd) and to want to continue this wonderful gathering. We did not realize we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun. It has made for a great Christmas celebration. Thank you for this idea, our co-worker, Pat.
And another thing is, we meet all year, every other month, for a restaurant lunch gathering, too.
A recipe for you to enjoy:
While at the Cape May County 4-H Fair, way back in July, I was talking to the person manning the booth for the Cape May County Herald. I said I have submitted a story, photo or recipe to the Christmas issue for years. It was before we emailed the submissions, I would walk up the stairs at the Herald building and hand-deliver it. Now, I was struggling to pick a recipe for the 2024 issue. He said, give us a good cookie recipe. Thank you for that help sir, and here it is.
CHOCOLATE CHERRY THUMBPRINT
Brownie-like chocolate cookies with a maraschino cherry in the middle and fudge icing. Servings: 40
Ingredients:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1½ tsp. vanilla
1 jar maraschino cherries (10 ounces), reserve the juice
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup sweetened condensed milk
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In large mixing bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugar on low speed until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat well. Gradually add the dry ingredients to creamed mixture until well-blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down on center of dough with your thumb or the end of a wooden spoon handle. Drain maraschino cherries and pat dry with paper towels, reserving the juice. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie.
In a small saucepan, combine the chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk and heat until chocolate is melted. Stir in 4 teaspoons of cherry juice. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover each cherry. If frosting is too thick, you can add a little more cherry juice. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until done. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool. Share some with a friend … and SANTA.
Grace and peace to you and those you love, and for those who need it most.
