Magic Max's Last Column

This is the last Magic Moments column written by Maxine Sanders. Even though her column is done, her magic moments continue on. 

I hope you all noticed a big hole in the paper last week.  If you didn’t notice, please don’t tell me as it would be a crushing blow to my ego.  Last week was the first time to my knowledge that there was not a Magic Moments column since I began writing over 24 years ago.  This is just one of many changes that my life has seen in the past few weeks.

Another change in my life that I didn’t see coming was having to deal with some health issues. Due to these health issues, I have made the decision that it is time to lay down my pen and stop writing Magic Moments. It has been a wonderful and magical time for me. The magic that I received from each of my loyal fans fills my heart to overflowing.  I want to express my warmest gratitude and deepest appreciation for all you have given to me. If it were not for your encouraging words, notes of appreciation, gifts of recipes and cookbooks and the magic you brought to my life I may have laid down my pen much sooner. 

When I began writing about the magic moments in my life five of my six siblings were still with me. Each of them brought many cherished moments to my life.  As the years have gone by I have had to say goodbye to each one of them.  The most recent goodbye was on March 25 when my sister and best friend, whom we all affectionately referred to as Kork, passed away.  Kork was a special sister and an even better friend.  It is my hope that as my health improves I will have the opportunity to once again pick up my pen to honor her in the manner in which she rightly deserves.

I want to leave you with a recipe that I hope each of you will be sure to make.  It can be made as large as needed, but I do not recommend cutting it in half or leaving out any ingredients.  It is my desire that you share this recipe. It has proven to be one of the best ones I have ever made.

A Perfect Family
1 large house

2-11 people (or more. Eleven worked perfectly for me. These people will be instrumental in seeing that the recipe continues to grow.)

2 cups of animals (We had cats, dogs, geese, goats, chicken, ponies, pigs and cows, but any combination will do. All of our animals were outdoors.  There is no house big enough for me and an indoor pet!)

Oodles and boodles of love

3 quarts of laughter (This tends to multiply and seems like it is too much.  There is NEVER too much laughter. Well, maybe at inappropriate times, such as during weddings and funerals. This can be brought back down to size with the appropriate LOOK.)

1 ½ cups of patience (There will be times you will think you need more.  It is best to rely on the amount the good Lord already gave you!)

4 tablespoons of trust

3 teaspoons of anger/frustration

First, open the house. If it seems too small that is okay; five people are not too many to place in one bedroom. Mix the desired amount of people with the animals carefully watching for allergic reactions. In a separate bowl, stir the love and laughter together. Set aside. Taking each person separately, evenly distribute the patience and trust, making sure that each one gets an equal amount. (Failure to distribute evenly may lead to a different recipe that I do not want to have to share!) Carefully open the bottle of anger/frustration. Using a Q-tip (this may be the best part of the recipe for some), dab small portions of the anger/frustration onto each person. Lastly, take the love and laughter mixture and sprinkle it all over the house, animals and people. Let set until all parts of the recipe are thoroughly combined. 

If this recipe works as well for you as it has for me you will have many more years of magic moments in your life.