76 SANDWICHES

       Now you know what I did with my first 90 minutes at the shelter kitchen. When I got down to the last five sacks, Joey offered to help me by putting some chips in them—bless his sweet heart. He'd spent most of the morning mopping, so my little sandwiches weren't a big deal by comparison, but one does tire of rote.
       We had a crowd today!  While the pre-release group was just average, the resident group was larger than usual, and there were FIVE children ranging in age from 1 to 13 years. I hope the children are gone soon—it's really sad when they must live in a shelter for months. You know the older ones are suffering along with their parent(s).
       My "favorite" greeted me with a warm hug. He's outward bound! He's working his job and preparing to get back out in the real world—and most impressive, this young man appreciates every single day as if it were perfect in every way. "Every day is beautiful," he says. I hope he takes that with him… I wish I had his attitude…
       Joey and I enjoyed our music more than usual today. Because he wasn't using the deep fryer and because the fans and ice maker weren't running, we could hear the music very well. We often ask, "Who's singing that?" And our diners are always anxious to suggest the answer. In the long run, it is Joey who knows celeb names better than the rest of us.
       So I started Joey on his times tables today. He's been assigned to recite the two-times table next Sunday. I gave him a little elementary-math workbook and a bag of pennies, and we talked about the assignment several times. I SO hope it's not too late for him to memorize the tables and always "have" them. He is approaching 30, and I don't know when that "learn it young" thing wears off. Do you?
       At his present level, Joey must give a lot of thought to "what is 2 times 4?" He thinks and thinks. He gets it, but he must count it out in his mind because he doesn't have it. I tell him that if he'll memorize the tables he'll always have them, the same way that he has "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall."
       I left after 3 hours. Leaving is hard;  my legs love it, but my heart wants to stay. I did bring home some concerns, and sadly, they are not new. That kitchen needs a new can opener. I know they cost $550, but come on, people! It's feeding four dozen souls three times a day, seven days a week… and those cookies I tried today—hello!—EW!—those things EXPIRED last December! There's a reason for expiration dates, in spite of what your conservative friends might say.
       While we do appreciate donations, shouldn't there be a limit to what is "okay?" I had to spit that cookie into the big trash can. Joey was saying, "Oh, Miss Joy, those aren't good, are they?"
      No, they're not good. They're not even tolerable. Worst of all, I put them in a bunch of lunch sacks. It was too late for a recall. Oooh... maybe I should taste-test more of the things I'm sacking up. You think?