<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hey Annie,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I enjoyed this poem—thanks for sharing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s almost like 3 poems, a memory mash-up, if you will. So while it reads perfectly fine as is, I could imagine it being broken up into 3 smaller poems. With the kitchen utensils, your father’s carpentry, and gardening as themes, you tap into warm memories that might be enhanced with the senses of sound and smell and taste. You already have these elements, but I imagine they could be expanded. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Again, thanks for sharing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Stylist <stylist-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ann Chiappetta via Stylist<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 13, 2022 2:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Writers' Division Mailing List' <stylist@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Ann Chiappetta <anniecms64@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Stylist] poem for your enjoyment<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>The Masher’s Last Stan<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>By Ann Chiappetta<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Blog: <a href="https://www.thought-wheel.com/the-mashers-last-stand/">https://www.thought-wheel.com/the-mashers-last-stand/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I learned to cook prior to food preparation machines and commercial blenders <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We used whisks, hand-crank mixers and potato mashers. I stood on the Romper Room emblazoned stool beside Mom until my little arms tired. I whipped cream, eggs, and sifted flour. I was practicing to be a Suzie Homemaker, don’t you know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After my parents divorced and we moved into an apartment, the budding skills became necessity. At nine I learned to scramble eggs, boil water for macaroni, and help make<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>meatloaf and meatballs. The spoon with the little holes and the potato masher made the move with us. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I estimate the utensils are over fifty years old, the spoon is solid stainless riveted to hardwood handle grips. The masher is also riveted and sturdy, not even a bit of rust. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dad’s carpenter’s measuring stick given to him by his father<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>was the final tool<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Laid in a reverent place among elderly scrapers, hammers and planers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bobby, said a friend, your making mistakes, get rid of that thing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The measuring tape wasn’t as fun to play with<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And pinched my tender fingers more than once<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dad would release the stop and we listened to it retract as if by magic and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>He would chuckle and say something about<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The wonders of modern technology<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Then whip out the stubby pencil from behind an ear, mark the wood<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>clip it back to his waist and return to work with the hand saw.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I pretended the curled papery bits from shaving the wood<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that fell like<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dogwood petals onto the shop floor were<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secret messages from fairies or a mouse<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I put them to my nose and inhaled the fragrances <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cedar or pine was the best<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pop gardened and gave me the first taste of fresh mint<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Strawberries warmed and sweetened by the sun<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pickled cucumbers in jars so big a child’s hands could not <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>carry or open them <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My little fingers squeezed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lupini beans from their casings as directed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By the little Italian lady visiting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From next-door<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and my lips tingled from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a bit of afternoon antipasto <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and my confidence was tempered<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>by losing a few hands of Casino<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I tried buying lupini beans and couldn’t find them<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Though I remember the card game rules and pulpy fragrant<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Refinements Of the shop<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And how attached I am to a few outdated implements<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The telltale products of my youth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Anniecms64@gmail.com">Anniecms64@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>914.393.6605 USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Anniecms64@gmail.com">Anniecms64@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All things Annie: <a href="http://www.annchiappetta.com">www.annchiappetta.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Ann M. Chiappetta, M.S.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>Making Meaningful ConnectionsThrough Media <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>914.393.6605 USA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Anniecms64@gmail.com">Anniecms64@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All things Annie: <a href="http://www.annchiappetta.com">www.annchiappetta.com</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>