Ginny Smiled

Ginny Smiled

Ginny loved mornings. She had adjusted to older age rather well compared to some of her friends. Having never cared much about looks beyond being clean and neat, she didn’t feel the need to pursue the wrinkle creams and newest younger looking trends. Plus, her fashion sense followed that of Gilda Radner “what doesn’t itch” with the addition of what wasn’t tight, and didn’t need ironing.

The only things that made her crazy were the things she had trouble doing now. Moving furniture, shoveling snow, threading needles. She hated asking for help and would spend days trying to solve a problem before she’d ask.

Ginny pulled her brand new fresh loaf of seeded rye bread out of the bread box. Fresh from the bakery yesterday, ready for her favorite breakfast, peanut butter toast. She felt almost giddy, until she pulled the peanut butter out. Also brand new, and still unopened.

Ginny looked at the cover, the circle of despair. It was still sealed. Usually she had her nephew Kenny open them when he came by, but she had forgotten. She knew from experience she was not going to be able to do it. Too wide, she didn’t have the strength nor the hand span to break that seal. She’d certainly tried many times.

But her bread! If she waited for Kenny, the bread wouldn’t be so fresh anymore. She sat and thought. Always a good thing, thought, she got an idea!

Carrying the jar down to the old workshop in the cellar, she caught the edge of the cap in the vice on the workbench. With two hands to use, she easily broke the seal! She had to laugh at how easy it turned out to be.

Later, enjoying her second set of toast, Ginny smiled. Life was still good.