I wrote my first column for the Annandale Advocate in November of 2006. That’s over 300 columns collected over the years. My mother has kept a copy of each and every one in scrapbooks.
People often ask where I get my ideas for stories and recipes. They come from readers, friends, neighbors, my childhood memories and relatives. All in all, they come from you, the person reading this right now.
I am so blessed to meet people who say they read the column because it is very personal to me. We have shared childhood crushes, loss of special family members, stories from the past and plans for the future, lots of tales of our children’s antics and thoughts regarding partners and parents.
The friends I have made here have often shared their tales of love and heartbreak. Young and old we all have a story to tell.
The commonality is relationships. I often encourage people to write their stories. Don’t keep them to yourself. Take a few minutes each day to write anything. A journal, a poem, a memory, a recipe…. anything that is important to you. Write it and share it.
The most touching gesture is when you share a piece of yourself. Leave your partner or child a note. Write a card to a friend with a favorite memory you shared. Take an old notebook and keep a dream journal.
And most of all don’t wait for a special occasion!
If you see something you know someone would love give it to them now. They will love the touching gesture because it is unexpected. The gesture itself will become a story.
Recently a sweet woman from Grand Marais made a very touching gesture, and it warms my heart every day. I am most touched when someone tells me they feel like they are my friend even though we may have never met.
I wrote a column about my sometimes chilly house and my cold floors. Donna Wilson immediately pulled out her knitting needles and made me a pair of beautiful slipper socks! She has knit socks for over 40 years. She has made more than 100 pairs of socks for the homeless vets, the American Legion, friends, family, the employees at the World’s Best Donuts, ladies at the Security State Bank and the cashiers at Johnson’s Foods!
I am in good company in the slipper sock department! They are a lipstick pink and pink combination, which were my wedding colors. How Donna knew that I will never know!
So, if you have a stash of yarn, you just can’t use let me know, and we will get them to Donna so she can reach out with more of her touching gestures.
“The smallest gesture can mean so much
to those who may need a little lift in their lives.”
~ Gordon B. Hinckley
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
Leave a Reply