... enjoying "small world" moments

This is a story in three parts. 

The first part is known to many of you.  

The second part is known to some of you.  

The third part ... very few of you.

PART I

I have three brothers -- all older than me -- and the middle of the three is a school teacher in England. He teaches the children of military personnel at Lakenheath Air Base. Snook (not his real name, but we'll use it anyway to protect his real identity) is a math whiz and loves getting high school kids to understand his beloved math. Teaching is so natural to him.  He taught in Michigan before heading to Japan to teach at the base in Misawa and is now in England teaching at Lakenheath. There is a rumor that he may retire soon, so that has prompted me to purchase an airline ticket so I can go to England on the cheaps in April.

PART II

I have developed a fascination with cupcakes.  Really, what is better than a cake that you get to eat all by yourself. As a result, I spend hours browsing internet sites and blogs for cupcake recipes. Once a recipe sparks an interest, I'm off to the store and then I drag out Momma's old Sunbeam Mixmaster and we whip up cupcakes. Oh the yummy delights we've made together ... and the flops I've thrown in the trash (honestly, don't people try these recipes out before they post them). This pic is one where I did a mix and match with the cupcake (vanilla) and the frosting (caramel). I must admit, they are too good.  nom nom

The poor souls at work are all too willing to be my guinea pigs and, let's just say, the plate came home empty.

PART II (and 1/2)

As part of my fascination with cupcakes, I've found a little shop just off of Camp Bowie in Fort Worth that sells only cupcakes. Nothing too unusual about that. After all, there are entire television shows dealing with cupcake shops, cupcake contests, etc. While it is true that they were Fort Worth's first "cupcake only" bakery, that's not what makes them unique for me. No, what is special about this shop is that it is truly a "mom and pop" enterprise. And while I've never been there, there's a good reason for that. They open at 10:00 in the morning and leave when their morning batch of cupcakes (300-400) is gone. They post on Facebook when all cupcakes have left the building to alert people that they are closed for the day. Generally, that happens way before I could get there ... having to work at an office where they would probably get a little upset at my running out the door at 10:00 to go get a cupcake from The Cupcake Cottage. The Cupcake Cottage couple also have no qualms about closing for a few days when they have "life events" (which they describe as anything from visiting family and friends to yard work to rounding-up unsuspecting dust-bunnies at home). Their philosophy is "work to live" and not the other way around. Because of this, I have "liked" this cupcake bakery on Facebook and enjoy seeing their daily flavors which are posted every day (sometimes with mouth watering pictures).  

PART III 

(Finally, you didn't think I'd get here, did you?)

Somehow I find out that Sandra (that's the "mom" in The Cupcake Cottage duo) writes a blog. Well, I'm a blog-a-holic so of course, I had to start reading her blog (secretly hoping for a cupcake recipe or two).  While I was disappointed to find that there are no recipes there, the following discovery did delight me. I learned that she was a school teacher long ago (well, maybe not all that long ago). Nothing earth shaking here, except that her first teaching job was (... drumroll please ...) teaching students in England at (... you ready for this ...) Lakeheath Air Base. I felt a little crazy doing it, but I wrote her a little e-mail telling her of this "small world" connection. I shouldn't have been surprised when she didn't think it was too crazy and wrote me back and gave me stories of her time in England, places she liked and memories she had, things she longed to do again. With the philosophy they have for their business, I should have known that she would appreciate the connection. I love "small world" moments and thought this one was exceptional.

Now, before I go to England, I feel a great need to visit The Cupcake Cottage and meet this lady who humored my craziness.  

Remember, it is a small world.

... you never know who knows about you or about where you've been ...

SO BE NICE TO EVERYONE.

Until next time - 

Bunches!

Nona