DEAR ANNIE
BY ANNIE LANE

FACING OBSTACLES WHEN MAKING FRIENDS

Dear Annie:

How can my husband, “Steven,” make new friends in retirement?  He is medically retired (blind) from work.  He is a non-smoker and non-drinker.  We are spiritual yet not religious.  We don’t have children, and our extended families live on the other side of the state.

So, the usual recommendations are not working for him:

No. 1:  Meet people at work.  He has been retired for more than six years and does not have much in common with his old co-workers.

No. 2:  Join a club.  He is a non-smoking, non-drinking blind guy.

No. 3:  Join a church.  He tried multiple churches of different denominations.  Our beliefs don’t match.

No. 4:  Volunteer.  Nobody wants a blind volunteer.  He can’t drive, and our town is too small for public transportation.  Taxis are expensive.

I am not a great resource because my work requires me to be gone for months at a time.  He tries to come with me, but my graveyard shift requires him to be quiet during the day, when I am trying to sleep.  He doesn’t know the areas that I’m assigned to, and sightseeing doesn’t quite work out for him.

He bakes for fun and shares the goodies with the hotel and housing staff and some of the other guests.  He is on the spectrum, and by the time people get to know him, my assignment is over, and it’s time to leave.

He is in his 60s, and I am at a loss on what to do to help.  I’m wracked with guilt about not being enough.

He needs someone to talk with, not just talk to.  To paraphrase a wise woman, “Help me, Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope.”  — Friends in Retirement

Dear Friends in Retirement:

Your husband sounds like a wonderful man.  You spent the first half of your letter listing all the reasons that he can’t find friends.  What about listing all the reasons that he can?  He sounds like he has a wonderful talent:  baking.  He could always volunteer at a bakery or, even better, start his own and sell them.  With an online presence, he could do really well, especially when buyers find out he is overcoming such a handicap.  It will be all the more reason to buy his treats.

~  Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com
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Lil’ Pizzas

Next to the Taco Bell (*sigh* gone) on Grand Avenue in Billings, Montana, was a super popular eatery- “Lil’ Pizzas” (*sigh* gone) – at least it was with my family and friends and almost everyone in town.

It was mainly a drive-thru sort of thing.

Lil’ Pizzas were made to order, delicious, and “just-perfect-size” for lunch or maybe 2 for dinner.

Lil’ Pizzas are great for slumber parties, birthday parties and families-having- fun-together-time on a Friday or Saturday night.

Here’s my make at home version:

CHOICE OF INGREDIENTS
PEPPERONI * SLICED MUSHROOMS * SMALL DICED GREEN PEPPER * SMALL DICED ONION * COOKED ITALIAN SAUSAGE * COOKED HAMBURGER * QUARTERED SLICES OF CANADIAN BACON * SLICED BLACK OLIVES * DRAINED, CRUSHED, CANNED PINEAPPLE * SHREDDED MOZZARELLA

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350*

On individual large flour tortilla shells, brush on jarred pizza sauce or marinara sauce.  Lightly layer choice of ingredients and sprinkle with mozzarella.

Place on a baking sheet.

When your Lil’ Pizzas have been assembled and on baking sheet, pop them in the oven and let bake until cheese is melted and ingredients are hot.  About 8 – 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and let stand a couple minutes – until they are cool enough to handle.

Then roll up the Lil’ Pizzas like a burrito.  Serve to smiling faces!