Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Curfew – Be home at ten

Do you remember when curfew was set by your parents? And you didn’t violate that curfew no matter what? There was never room for negotiations unless it was a special event, like maybe the senior prom. Ten o’clock meant ten o’clock. Unless your parents were more lenient and gave you until eleven to get home.
“Waiting for the shoe to drop” must have been coined when I started dating. This was the universal signal to say goodnight to a date. But my father didn’t drop his shoe, he turned on the porch light. We never crossed this boundary because his word was law. And we knew the consequences for breaking it. But times have changed.
A disturbing new trend is taking place across the country. It’s called “Flash Mobs” or “Flash Robs.” And it is being taken up by young people, teenagers, and kids as young as 12 or 13. And I’m thinking, where are these kids’ parents? 
The kids meet at a pre-arranged public place, sometimes a restaurant or shop or a busy street in the middle of town where they wreak havoc, robbing and beating up people, usually the elderly who can’t defend themselves. They use their strength in numbers to rip people off, mobbing stores, intimidating store clerks and disrupting shoppers. Then they disperse and pop up in other public places.   
The original idea behind flash mobs was to do something creative by entertaining people,  taking them by surprise with singing and dancing acts. But it is being taken to another level and it’s putting people in danger.
Hardened criminals are just as guilty of this terrible crime, but I’m talking about curfew here.
I can remember when things like this didn’t happen.  
I recall walking home alone when Newberry’s closed at 9 p.m. without any fear of being attacked– except by an imaginary troll under the bridge on Kentucky Street.  But it was strictly my imagination that made me hasten my steps until I got by it.  Other than that, I always got home okay.  (I wonder if that troll is still hiding under that bridge.)
Our streets were safer back then. Parents knew where their children were even though they didn’t have cell phones to keep track of them. We lived by an unwritten code…be home on time.  And we knew to respect it.
I hesitate to think what would have happened if we had carried on like we read about happening today. I’m glad we had boundaries.

The pretzel crust adds an extra special touch. When ready to serve, garnish each slice with a dollop of whipped topping and a lime slice.

Cool Lime Pie

1 1/4 cups crushed pretzels
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon grated lime peel
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
4 drops green food coloring (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
To Make Crust: In a medium bowl, combine pretzels, sugar and butter. Press into a lightly greased 9 inch pie pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
To Make Filling: In a large bowl, combine limeade and condensed milk. Whisk in pudding mix. Allow mixture to set for 5 minutes. Stir in lime peel, then fold in whipped topping. Stir in green food coloring if desired.
Pour mixture into cooled pie crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.