“Only” is a word we often don’t like. Webster’s dictionary will give us one definition of “only,” as “no more.” Meaning that’s it; no, no, can’t do!
Early in our marriage my wife and I were living in a small town in north central Indiana, Tipton. I was in my third or fourth year of teaching and coaching when we met and became friends with a couple that these forty plus years later we are still very close friends with today.At that time our friend was the minister of a small church there in town. They had no children, and we had a very small baby at that time. As was said in an old statement we used to hear back then, “Both of us lived hand to mouth,” meaning funds were not plentiful. I think my teaching and coaching salary at the time was less than $7,000; remember this was back in 1967.
Often after attending a night service at church, my friend’s wife loved to go to the small restaurant there in town for “coffee and pie.” Looking back on those times now, it is obvious that it was for more than food and drink. It was a time in the lives of young married couples seeking friendship, identity, and support and just feeling the need of caring and sharing.
Often my friend and I would stand at the back of the church after everyone had left to check our funds. Living “paycheck to paycheck” was not just a statement; it was our way of life then. Often it would be near the end of the month before payday, and he and I would count our monies together. There were times when, between the two of us, we had enough money for all of us to have pie along with the coffee. One of the wives generally would want sugar cream pie to be exact. There were a few Sunday nights when the meter would read, “Oops ladies, we only have enough money tonight for coffee for all, no pie.” Or maybe a few times the wives would share a piece of pie. Looking back now I would have to say those were special times in the lives of all four of us, good times.
You know, sometimes life can be good when there is enough monies for one to have coffee and pie, and it also can be good when there is only enough money for coffee.
One does not have to have pie every time for life to be good.
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November 5, 2012
Keep on,
Larry Adamson