June is a busy month for many people. Graduations are usually around the first of June (or they were when I graduated). Of course, June is the month for weddings. If there is a wedding, there is sure to be a wedding shower to attend or plan.

Now that your child has graduated, they will start down that long and winding road.

For some, the next stop is college. For some, time is spent looking for a job. Some might plan to go into the military. June will turn out to be a pivotal month in their life’s plan.

If college is in the future, I hope you have a lot of moolah put back because even if your child has a scholarship; that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The other items that crop up are along the line of, gas money, food money, dating money, book money and other incidentals you never thought of.

I know my grandson didn’t like the food served in the cafeteria at college, so every month on his bank statement were debits at Taco Bell, McDonalds, Taco Bueno and every other fast food place in Abilene. I guess we should have bought a five-day food plan at Taco Bell.

Also about this time, it flashes in your mind you hope you taught them that now they are on their own. They are responsible for their clothes, their grades and remembering what’s right and what’s wrong.

They will meet their roommate, maybe for the first time. Hopefully the roommate won’t play Cajun music at midnight, have to have a night light with a bright smiley face on it, has a stuffed animal they talk to every night before they go to sleep and will know what a waste basket is for and will know how to turn on a shower and use it. Ah, the wonders they will behold.

As a parent or grandparent, you hope your child remembers everything you ever told him. Everything! Even the part of never leaving the house with dirty or ragged underwear.

Now this next part is very important. Make sure your child doesn’t go away to college in a town where you don’t have at least one person you know. A person you know well enough that your child can call for help if needed or someone you know well enough who will keep tabs on him if need be. Hey, you’ve gotta do what you gotta do.

You hope they apply themselves and learn something. Anything is better than nothing.

The student will quickly learn how good they had it at home. They will appreciate you more. They will now understand how hard it is to hang on to their money. It will just seem to fly out of their bank accounts or wallets. The most important thing they learn is the money doesn’t replenish itself overnight.

Unfortunately, some of the students will learn how to party hearty. You will have to hope this is only a passing fancy and will end quickly. If the money is not replenished, you can be sure it will end quickly.

If everything works out, in four or five years you will again see that loved one walk across a stage and get that all important college degree. As you hear his name called, you want to stand up and cheer for many reasons. First, they made it, and second, maybe now you will have enough money to go to McDonalds for a wild night out. It will be your turn to once again, have some money in your bank account unless, you have more children waiting in line for their chance at a college education. If so, I will say a prayer for you and commensurate with you and the fact you will have to drive that 2000 Chevy another four or five years.

For a good meal, buy some farm raised catfish, roll it in corn meal, fry it and try these.



Jalapeno hushpuppies

2 cups cornmeal

1 cup flour

2 eggs beaten

3 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1 small can cream style corn

3 jalapeno peppers, chopped, seeds removed

1/4 bell pepper, chopped

1 small onion, minced fine

Pinch of soda

Buttermilk

Mix all ingredients. Use enough buttermilk to make it the consistency of cornbread batter. Test batter by scooping up a portion on a spoon and with your thumb, push portion into medium hot grease. The object of this recipe is to have light, fluffy hushpuppies. If they are heavy and do not rise enough, use more baking powder. If hushpuppies are greasy and break apart, add a little more flour. If you want more zing, add some jalapeno pepper juice. Sever piping hot with plenty of a cold beverage.



Fire and ice

2 large purple onions, cut in 1/4-inch slices

6 large firm tomatoes, peeled and quartered

1 bell pepper, cut into strips

3/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed

1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seed

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Place onions, tomatoes and bell pepper in a bowl. In a saucepan, bring all remaining ingredients to boil. Boil 1 minute only. While still hot, pour over vegetables. Chill well. This is good as a side order with charbroiled steak.



Winston Churchill said in a speech, “Never give up. Never, never, never.”

If these new graduates will use these words as their mantra and repeat them as they start down that long and winding road. If they do this, amazing things can happen.

Just think. One day you may be sitting on the other side of a desk asking your banker grandson or granddaughter for a loan. Or, you may hear them say those magic words — you want fries with that?

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Janis may be reached at: jks4417@aol.com.