Thyme After Time: When Life Hands You Lemons: Go To The Bar

It was a slow afternoon and there wasn't much to do. We sat, waiting for some customers to come wandering in, bored from watching daytime TV. We half stared toward the door, almost as if staring at it would conjure someone up to better pass our time.
Sure enough, it worked. The heavy brown door opened letting in beams of sunshine and a customer.
I hopped to my feet, ready and thankful to have something to do.
There, standing in the doorway, was an older black gentleman. I said hello as he adjusted his eyes and started to look around. He wore a long tan trench coat that was wrinkled and soiled. His clothes under the coat hadn't fared much better. His boots had no laces. His face wore a toothless smile with what I initially thought was outlined with a white five-o-clock shadow to match his silvery white hair. It was then I noticed what was in his hand. He held a powdered donut, a piece bitten off. His five-o-clock shadow was actually powdered sugar, a lot of powdered sugar.

He looked scanned the room, barely noticing anyone was around. His arms rose slowly, straight out and up above his head, palms facing up. He slightly arched his back and as he smiled his eyes closed, his face lifted toward the ceiling. He opened his eyes and held out the donut in front of him. He looked at it with as much love as you would imagine a couple would gazing into each other's eyes. And then he began to dance. He waltzed with the donut, slowly and gently, spinning it around, holding it up and then slowly spinning some more. I stood and watched the man dance as elegant as one could when one danced with a donut. His smile was that of pure happiness. In fact, he wore the look of pure bliss on his face. He was totally immersed in this dance with the donut, blissfully unaware of where he was or who was around him. His smile never faded. In the briefest of moments, I envied that man. It appeared he had so little but was experiencing so much joy and bliss. How often have I myself just stopped and immersed myself in a moment of pure bliss with the world disappearing around us. How often has any of us?

The waltz went on for a few minutes. I was at a loss and looked over to my boss for help. It almost seemed a shame to break up the dance with the donut. My boss rose and as kindly as he could, escorted the gentleman back out of the door. It seemed, he too, didn't want to break the spell of the donut dance. The dance ended but the smile never left as the old man disappeared, walking down the street.

I truly believe that every person that waltzes into your life, whether you know it, whether they know it, waltzes through for a reason. I know there are those who would dismiss the entire incident as a man on drugs or someone mentally unstable, or both. I don't deny either but no matter who someone is, they have something to teach us and that man taught me to savor every moment in life.

With that, I now present you with lemon bars. I can't promise that you will experience the same bliss as the gentleman with his donut but maybe during those sour moments of life, it's the little things, donuts, homemade lemon bars....even just watching the sun rise that brings a smile (and gratefulness for what we have to offer) to our faces.

Lemon Bars

1 1/2 Cups Flour

2/3 Cup Confectioner's Sugar

3/4 Cup Butter, softened

4 Eggs

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

4 Tbsp flour

3/4-1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice, about 4-5 lemons

Confectioner's Sugar, for decorating

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar and 3/4 cup butter.

Pat down into your dish.

Bake 20 minutes until slightly golden.

Meanwhile, combine 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 4 tablespoons of flour and the lemon juice until light and frothy. Use 3/4 cup to start. I like mine tart so I usually use almost a whole cup but taste before I add just in case the lemons are extra tart.