This is Christmas-red, you just can’t tell it by the red in this psychedelic photograph; it goes beyond a vibrant color that is cheerful having a holiday feel. It seems that this KitchenAid stand mixer was made specially mine, basically given to me from a dear friend who wanted me to have this specifically at Christmas time. Currently, my friend is in the hospital in his last days because of cancer. I didn’t get the cake baked with him, his favorite, a German chocolate– He even mentioned making it in half: German chocolate and red velvet layers, a tall order for a tall cake. I’ve actually never made a German chocolate cake. I was waiting until Mike and I got one made with this mixer. “Susan, I’m going to hold you to it”, he said sweetly, remembering the times he had in his grandmother’s kitchen when she baked him his favorite cake from time to time. He always wanted to have a homemade German chocolate cake again, as close enough if not just like hers.
He’s gone through lung cancer, then brain cancer for quite a while. If he could undergo surgery today, it could possibly grant him one more year with his son. Unfortunately, he is unable to be given a little more time outside of days. The doctor says he would not make it through one more surgery, and he most likely will never get to go back home again. Will I bake his favorite cake, take it to the hospital?– ? I will see him one more time, will have to say goodbye whether I want to or not. I’ve omitted a few goodbyes of loved ones for the dread of having to say a final note, to bear the soul between two. Regret follows when avoiding such a difficult moment that is meant to be shared and said… I will say goodbye to a great friend. I will bear my soul just a little bit and count the blessings I’ve had with him. He was there when my father died, the talks we had since then, and food was always the opener to all of our conversations. If I didn’t go over with my husband to see Mike on some visits when he was in a frenzy to want to cook, he’d immediately call me on the phone to make sure he had my visit as soon as my husband would leave his house upon sending food home, laughing out loud with tears as I type this! We lived 1 1/2 hours away from each other, we’d talk on the phone the whole duration it took for my husband to get home, step in the door and shake his head smiling knowing it was Mike. He still had his serious sense of humor and that’s one of the things I liked and love about Mike. Mike was an exceptional cook even though he never baked. When I use this mixer during the upcoming holidays, I will feel Mike’s sorrow, laughter, and happiness mixed up into one, a gift he showed me what it is to go on through months of pain and discomfort while still having the passion to live, work, and give.
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