Pharm Cooking: Storms, tornadoes alter plans
By LOU GREENHAW
Contributing writer
This has been a most unusual month. Our older son, Cameron, is getting married on May 24. There were two showers to attend, Kristy's (his fiancée's) college graduation and then the rehearsal dinner and wedding weekend. What we didn't count on was a tornado!
Cameron and Kristy are both resident directors of dorms at William Jewell college in Liberty, Mo. The tornado that hit Kansas City on May 4, hit the college especially hard. No one on campus was injured. Praise the Lord! But plans, including wedding plans, suddenly changed. Finals were canceled, students were told to go home and the cleanup began. Cam and Kristy were each responsible for their dorms and made many trips in among the glass and debris to retrieve medicine, car keys, and other necessary items for residents of the dorms. Finally, the end of last week, they allowed students inside to move their things out.
Cam and Kristy will be living in an apartment in Eaton Hall, the freshmen men's dorm. That dorm had the roof lifted and then replaced but not exactly straight! However, they will be able to live there it appears.
Kristy's dorm had the roof blow off one wing. The dorm across the street lost the entire roof. One of the married student housing buildings was totally destroyed. The beautiful clock tower, a symbol of Jewell, is now lying on the ground.
We attended graduation which was moved to a church in Liberty. One of the speaker's said he had written his speech a week ago and it included a line about leaving the safe confines of the campus and going into the turbulent world! That brought a laugh!
Despite the uncertainty and inconvenience it caused with our wedding plans, there is much for which to be thankful. The wedding gown was at the bridal shop for the final fitting so it was safe. The place on campus where the reception will be held was not damaged. The restaurant for the rehearsal dinner which is on the square in downtown Liberty wasn't hurt even though other buildings in the square were. The chapel where Cam and Kristy pray every morning together and is very special to them is not too damaged. They wanted some of their wedding pictures there.
The invitations to the rehearsal dinner were in the post office on campus at the time of the tornado so people didn't receive them in time for the RSVP, so I got to call and meet all of Kristy's relatives. I now have talked to half of Michigan!
It will all work out and be a wonderful time. We are truly blessed. Kristy has such a sweet disposition that she is moving through the plans as if nothing happened.
So my dress has been fitted but if I could shed another pound or two, the new body shaping slip would be much more comfortable! I am trying to watch my calories, not always with success. I try to make sure I have plenty of vegetables to fill me up instead of large helpings of the main dish. Here are two short recipes that get the job done!
Cam and Kristy will have so many stories to tell about their wedding. It will always be "the wedding the year the tornado hit Jewell!" As long as they are affiliated with Jewell, it will help Cam remember his anniversary as folks talk about the day the tornado hit!
Southwestern Salsa Corn
1 (16-0unce) package frozen corn
1/2 cup salsa
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
Chopped green onion, optional
Cook corn according to package directions. Stir in salsa, olives, and onions and heat until hot.
Grilled zucchini
Zucchini
Low-fat Italian dressing
Cut zucchini into chucks. Pour dressing over and let marinate several hours. Place chunks on skewer and grill until crisp tender using marinade to baste.
