Bena Mae’s Kitchen: One Step at a Time

The sky was bluer this morning. The sun was brighter. My coffee tasted better, more body, more “good to the last drop flavor. “ I had been given a reprieve. Life was good again.
“But heart attacks don’t run in my family!” I had protested to the men in the white coats. “They do now,” they said. “You’re having one!”
I watched as huge Star Wars-like machines moved soundlessly over my body, hovered, then moved on. I felt like I was in a lab in an old Boris Karloff silent movie…. like the bride of Frankenstein. Several men in masks were probing the three arteries that had become clogged, using their Roto- Rooters to clear out the deadly sins of the past 80 some years I had inflicted upon them… gravies, heavy cream, fatty foods, burgers and fries and rich buttery mashed potatoes. I didn’t have to worry about my weight, I thought, I was small framed. But little did I know heart attacks are not respectful of a person’s weight or genetic pool and that payback time was coming.
It came with a bang. About two weeks ago. My left arm and shoulder had been giving me fits for about 4 days. I ignored the pain, thinking I had twisted my torso without knowing it and took a couple of pain pills. Then on the Sunday night, it hit like a bolt of lightning. I was almost completely incapacitated. I barely made it to the door to let the EMT’s in. 
The ambulance rushed me to the hospital where they were waiting for me. They immediately started the procedure that saved my life. They were very efficient, knew exactly what they were doing. “You dodged the widow-maker,” they told me. “This one could have killed you!”
My recovery has been spectacular. I can now walk without assistance, breath more deeply than previously and feel 100% better. I still can’t run the Boston Marathon, but hey, there is still lots that I can do. This summer I can plant flowers and watch them grow and bring in my own mail.  Small steps, big rewards.
One step at a time.

Save this for the next time you need a patriotic themed dessert.

Strawberry-Blueberry Jello Pie

1-1/2 cups boiling water, divided
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
1 cup ice cubes, divided
1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin, or any red flavor
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

ADD 3/4 cup boiling water to blue gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add 1/2 cup ice cubes; stir until melted. Pour into crust; refrigerate 5 to 10 min. or until set but not firm.
MEANWHILE, repeat to dissolve red gelatin mix in separate bowl; stir in remaining ice cubes. Cool 5 min. or until slightly thickened.
SPREAD COOL WHIP over blue gelatin.  Let set two hours in frig.