"You Never Know Whom You'll Meet"

I met a really cute little old lady the other day at Walgreens. Her name is Ruth.

I was walking into Walgreens to get a prescription filled and I overheard a conversation between this cute little old lady and the cashier. The cashier was telling the lady that in just a minute she'd call the cab company, again, to come and get her. I heard the AGAIN very clearly. It was obvious the older lady was very tired. She was leaning up against the wall by the front door; sort of propped up by the wall and the shopping carts. Her packages lay at her feet.

I didn't stop then. I continued toward the pharmacy and put in the order for my prescription. As I predicted, the pharmacist told me it would be about a 30 minute wait for my prescription to be filled. I came prepared with a shopping list, knowing I'd have time to kill, but I didn't need 30 minutes to complete my list.

This prompted me to go back to the front of the store where the little old lady was patiently waiting for her ride. I walked up to her and gently tapped her shoulder. I said, "Can I give you a ride home?" Her face brightened but she also had a nervous look of doubt. "Oh you can't she said." Then she turned to me and the cashier, and the long line of people waiting to check out, and, first to me she said, "Can I trust you?" Then to the rest of the throng she said, "Can I trust her?" I quickly said, jokingly, "Of course you can trust me. I'm from Wisconsin". That made some laugh. Many shrugged their shoulders but all smiled. She said "Okay. You can give me a ride".

Now I started to worry. I told her I'd go get my car. My biggest concern was that she might be feeble of mind and the reason she needed a cab was she didn't know HOW to get home. That might be a problem. Chicago is a big city! I pulled my car close to the door and went back in to get her. As she followed me out to the car she took one look at what I drove and jokingly said "I know why you wanted to drive me home. You wanted to show off your beautiful new car". (I liked this woman already. Funny as a crutch!). I told her that wasn't my reason.

When we got in I insisted she wear her seatbelt. She needed help getting it on. I said, "Not to worry. I'll help. My mom always had problems hooking her seatbelt too." They were about the same petite size. I told her my name and she told me hers was Ruth.

As Ruth and I pulled out of the Walgreens parking lot I asked. "Can you direct me to your home? I don't know where you live". She said "Of course", and gave me very clear directions all the way. Funny. All the way was only about 4 blocks. Maybe 6. It was cold. I noticed she had neither hat nor gloves. She told me how she needed her medicine and had no idea it was so cold until after she got walking. She also apologized for being so tired. She said she had been waiting a LONG time for a cab. At first she waited in the pharmacy but then moved to the front where she stood for a long time. Her legs were weary.

We got near her home and I knew instantly she lived in the senior complex across from the park. I see the elder statesmen talking on the lawn when the weather is nice. I saw no entrance driveway so I asked if there was somewhere on the side of the building that I could drive to get her close to the doorway. She said, "No. Everyone just pulls up front by the sidewalk. Hang a "U-ee" here. Right here. Everyone does it".

I had not heard the term "hang a u-ee" since sometime in the early 70's. I giggled till my ribs hurt. I got out of the car, walked around and helped her to the door with her packages. I wished her a happy holiday. She went on her way. I went on mine.

I had plenty of time to get my list covered at the drug store before my prescription was ready. The cashier made a point of stopping me in the aisle to thank me. That was more than I needed.

The really ironic part of the story for me is I don't usually drive to Walgreens. It's only 5 blocks from my house and I always figure I can use the exercise. It was cold, dismal and I had other errands I was considering doing on that trip so at the last minute I decided to take the car.

Somebody "up there" told me to take my car. No doubt.

As the holidays approach and I again grieve the loss of my own parents, I am considering taking a gift to Ruth. It should be easy to find her; even if it's a big building. Someone there must know the cute little old lady who has one blue eye and one brown one. There can only be one Ruth in that building who's that unique. Nothing fancy. Maybe some bed socks with a note tucked in that if she ever needs a ride to Walgreens or an errand done, I'm at her disposal. We only live about a block and half from each other. Why should our encounter be a one-time thing?

Whom might you encounter during the Christmas Holidays? Think about it.

When you want a warm and cozy meal this season break out the chicken breasts and make this one. It's great in front of a fire with some quiet music. Not difficult to make and oh, so gourmet. I even included some simple side dishes. Share it with someone special to you.

Cheers! Enjoy! Zola

Prosciutto-wrapped, stuffed chicken breasts with mushrooms and Swiss cheese

Serves 2. Can be doubled

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves
2 slices of Swiss cheese
1/4 tsp Italian spice mix
8 oz. sliced button mushrooms
1 Tbl butter
2 tsp olive oil
4 slices of prosciutto

Sides:
1 large baking potato scrubbed clean. Don't peel it.
1 small bunch of asparagus, trimmed and washed

Start with your potato. Make sure the potato is very clean. This way when you serve it you can eat the skin. Poke a sharp knife 4 or 5 times into the potato to give it venting holes. Put it in the oven on 350 degrees, by itself for 45 minutes.

Now make your chicken. Prep your chicken breasts by rinsing them. Then take a sharp knife, and in the fattest part of the breast cut a slice about 1" deep and 3 - 4 inches across (depends on how large your breast is). Do same with second chicken breast. Set aside.

Get out your oven-proof sauté pan if you have one. (This will save an extra dish to wash if you don't have one). Put in the butter and olive oil. Add the mushrooms and the Italian spice mix. Sauté on medium high until the mushrooms are just starting to brown on the edges. When the mushrooms are cooked, carefully take a fork, tong or spoon and squish a batch of the mushrooms in the hole in the chicken. They can stick out the top and there will be a few leftovers so just leave those in the pan.

Fold your Swiss cheese and squish it in next to the mushrooms. It's okay if it doesn't all neatly stay in the chicken breast. That's where your prosciutto comes in handy.

Wrap the two slices of prosciutto around the chicken breast. Make sure it's completely covered and then place it seam-side down in the pan with the mushrooms. (If you don't have an oven proof sauté pan this is where you get out a 9 X 9 Pyrex pan and transfer the mushrooms and chicken into it).

The chicken is going to roast next to the baked potato for about 30 minutes or until you cut into the chicken and you don't see any pink. Depending on how large the meat pieces are this might take 45 minutes.

15 minutes before the chicken is expected to be done take out another ovenproof pan and put in your asparagus. Spray it with olive oil spray and season with salt and pepper if you want. Put it in the oven too. All three things will be done at the same time.

Serve the chicken with half of the baked potato for each person. I cut it the long way and squish it down, seasoning with butter, salt and pepper. You can dress your potato any way you want. If you use a large potato one for two people is plenty. Serve asparagus on the side and you have an easy, comfort food meal.