Many Things Considered

Award winning broadcast journalist Susan Stamberg was the featured speaker at the YWCA's "Women of Distinction" luncheon in Spokane this past week. Best known for her tenure as co-host of NPR's "All Things Considered," Stamberg was an excellent choice. She inspired hundreds in attendance with stories of women who, in turn, have inspired her. Stamberg's examples were varied and poignant, beginning with her account of Miep Gies who courageously hid the Otto Frank family during the Holocaust. At great personal risk, Miep secretly brought food to the Franks and others while they hid from the Nazis for over two years. Moreover, Miep Gies is credited with rescuing Anne Frank's famous diary and subsequently returning it to Anne's father - the only surviving Frank family member.

Other inspirational figures Susan Stamberg cited included prolific artist Georgia O'Keefe whom she interviewed during the artist's later years. O'Keefe had all but lost her eyesight but continued her passion to "fill space in a beautiful way."

And during one of her favorite interviews with a highly disfigured teacher, Stamberg was told to "look beyond what you can really see."

Throughout her message Susan Stamberg paid tribute to inspirational mothers - including her own. She failed, however, to share her mother's famous Cranberry Relish recipe, but Google led me to the recipe quickly:

Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish
2 cups whole raw cranberries, washed
1 small onion
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons horseradish from a jar ("red is a bit milder than white")

Grind the raw berries and onion together. ("I use an old-fashioned meat grinder," says Stamberg. "I'm sure there's a setting on the food processor that will give you a chunky grind — not a puree.")

Add everything else and mix. Put in a plastic container and freeze. Early Thanksgiving morning, move it from freezer to refrigerator compartment to thaw. ("It should still have some little icy slivers left.")

The relish will be thick, creamy, and shocking pink. ("OK, Pepto Bismol pink. It has a tangy taste that cuts through and perks up the turkey and gravy. It’s also good on next-
day turkey sandwiches, and with roast beef.")

Makes 1-1/2 pints.

Leaving Tracks

Countless people espouse the virtues of journaling - often because it encourages one to be introspective and/or reflective. After blogging for six months during our New Zealand Adventure (December 2009-May 2010), I fully appreciate why journaling is recommended. For me, blogging became a terrific way to preserve my memories. While living in Rotorua, I found myself looking forward to photographing and recording our extraordinary experiences. This exercise encouraged me to look for and appreciate the uniqueness of every day and every adventure. Five months later I still find myself taking pictures of everyday life and considering how I would I document my observations and impressions. I wish I had kept a diary or journal years ago.

So starting today, I intend to keep document those days, people, events, and feelings,that I want to savor or, at the very least, recall. I won't be broadcasting my intent because leaving these tracks will obviously be far more interesting to me than to anyone else.