LOVE IS SPELLED T*I*M*E

A young man learns what’s most important in life from the guy next door.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night.  The funeral is Wednesday.

Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry Mom.  Yes, I heard you.  It’s been so long since I thought of him.  I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you.  Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing.  He’d even reminisce about the many days you spent ‘on the other side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry,” Jack said.  “I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him.  He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important …  Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word.  Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.

Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful.
He had no children of his own and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his mom stopped by to see the house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment.  It was like crossing over another dimension, a leap through space and time.

The house was exactly as he remembered.  Every step held memories.  Every picture, every piece of furniture.
Jack stopped suddenly…

“The box is gone,” he said.  “There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk.  I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside.  All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most,'” Jack said.

It was gone.
Everything about the house was exactly how he remembered it, except the box.
He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now, I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said.
“I better get some sleep.  I have an early flight home, Mom.”

It had been two weeks since Mr. Belser died.

Returning home from work one day — Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.

Signature required on a package.  No one at home.  Please stop by the main post office within three days, the note read.

Early the next day, Jack retrieved the package.
The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago.
The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

Mr. Harold Belser it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package.
There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside:

Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett.  It’s the thing I valued most in my life.

A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box.

There inside was a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside, he found these words engraved –
Jack, thanks for your time.  ~ Harold Belser

“The thing he valued most was … my time,” Jack whispered to himself.

Jack held the watch for a few minutes and then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.

“Why?”  Janet his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

“Oh, by the way, Janet, Thanks for your time.”

LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE BREATHS WE TAKE,
BUT BY THE MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY.

Think about this:
You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.

At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.

Every night SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
You mean the world to someone.

If not for you — someone might not be living.
You are special and unique.

When you think there’s no chance of getting what you want, you probably won’t get it or something better.

When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.

When you think the world has turned its back on you — take a look.  You most likely turned your back on the world.
Someone that you didn’t even know exists loves you.

Always remember the compliments you received.  Forget about the rude remarks.

Always tell someone how you feel about them, you will feel much better when they know and you will be happy.

If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know they are great — And “Thank you for your time.”

~ Author unknown ~

BURGERS DIANE

This flavorful burger was inspired by a classic Julia Child recipe for steak Diane.  The thick pungent sauce, with its bites of green peppercorns and zip of Worcestershire sauce, adds a touch of sophistication that will please the epicure in you.

HERE’S HOW WE MAKE BURGERS DIANE
INGREDIENTS:

• 1 TBSP cornstarch
• 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 pounds ground sirloin
• 3 TBSP green peppercorns packed in water, drained
• 1/4 tsp soy sauce
• 1 + TBSP olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 tsp port or Madeira

NOW IT’S TIME TO MAKE BURGERS DIANE

1.  In a small mixing bowl, whisk together cornstarch, mustard and broth and set aside.
2.  Form the ground sirloin into 6 patties, each 1 inch thick, and set aside.
3.  Place the peppercorns on a shallow plate and crush with the back of a spoon.
   Mix in the soy sauce and 1 tsp of olive oil.
4. Press both sides of each burger into the peppercorn mixture, so the burgers are evenly studded and you’ve used up all the peppercorns.
5. Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a skillet over high heat and sear 3 of the burgers on both sides – about 2 minutes each side.
6. Remove from pan and set aside.
7. Repeat with the remaining 3 burgers.
8. Reduce the heat to medium, add the shallots and parsley and stir to combine.
9. Add the cornstarch mixture, Worcestershire, lemon juice and port and whisk/cook for about a minute or 2.
10. Carefully pour the sauce into a second skillet.
11. Place 3 burgers in each skillet.
12. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, bathing, the burgers in the simmering sauce by turning them over, about 3-5 minutes.

SERVE BURGERS DIANE

On toasted buns with a side salad, fresh fruit, chips or fries.

~ Recipe given to me by Cal, caterer on Salem
Thanks Cal!