A Guest Post (for our baker)

It's 11:30 pm , and even though it is not quite yet midnight, I just had a delicious 'midnight snack' . It all started when I dropped off a delivery at the home of a friend early this evening. Two young children were prancing about the front yard. Obviously, they were the family's official welcoming committee. Because, no sooner had I closed the car door, then they immediately invited me into their home. I followed them into the house, and behold-there were more children! One in diapers (and not much else) being held by the 9 year old. And then suddenly, out of no where, appeared a 'baker'. In a green, dough-spotted apron. With something red and green in the palm of her hands. And I thought ... 'What a great mother! She hires a baker to bake all kinds of goodies for her kids'. Right off the bat, the baker offered me the cookie, fresh from the oven. At first I didn't want to take it, thinking that she might not have enough left for Rosh Hashonna if everyone who walks into her house takes her cookies. But this was soon to be resolved. Following her into the kitchen ... careful not to step on all the dough, tin foil, and baking utensils strewn all over the KITCHEN FLOOR , I realized that there were many more cookies from where this one came. In all different shapes too.And the baker turned out NOT to be hired help, but to be the eldest child... who had undertaken this enormous project so that the family and their cousins could have apple cookies for Rosh Hashonna. We wrapped the cookie carefully ... and I carted it home. As soon a I walked in, I put it in a very special place. Where no one would find. It's not that I am selfish ... it's just that it was soooo tempting. All night long I told everyone how tired they looked,and how they ought to go to sleep a bit early tonight. But no one listened. There is lots to do around the house before Rosh Hashonna, and everyone was busy, busy. Now, finally .. the house is quiet. Everyone is asleep. I run to the refrigerator to pour myself a cold glass of milk. And then to my secret hiding place. I lift the hood of my piano, and there it is. My red and green apple cookie. My almost-midnight snack. And into the kitchen, suddenly, walks my husband. I am caught with the 'goods'. He tells me that he has never seen such a delicious -looking apple. It's almost Rosh Hashonna. And in that spirit, I share my delicious cookie!!!