How do you handle a down day? Think about it.

I seldom have a bad day when everything seems to go wrong, but there is not a person alive who has all perfect days. Or if there is such a person, I would love to meet them and find out their secret.

Assuming we all have an occasional bad day, how do we cope?

First of all remember, “This too shall pass.” The situation won’t last forever. There is little we can do to control those days when we have a flat tire or a light bulb burns out at the most inopportune moment in the middle of making candy or something. A button pops off a dress or shirt when we are hurrying to meet a deadline. There is a sudden downpour and the umbrella is in the car and you are at work, or vice versa. You know what I mean. There are just times when things go wrong in spite of what we do or don’t do. These times are just temporary set-backs.

What we want to do is not let little things ruin our day. We must learn to laugh at ourselves and our situations, fix them the best we can. They consume only a small part of our day. The balance of the day is not wrecked just because of one little incident. Little detours only make us appreciate the good roads. Consider detours the scenic route.

We must never allow ourselves to get the blues and keep them. We are in control of our thoughts. Sure, things happen, but it is within ourselves to direct our own attitude about what happens. If we laugh at ourselves, soon the bad day will seem comical, too. Those are times that make lasting memories.

During the Great Depression and the aftermath of World War II when I was growing up, I am sure there were many bad days for my parents trying to raise seven children on a shoe string. Everyone was in the same circumstances. There was no money to buy things. Everyone worked hard to make a living. We were short on things, but certainly not on love. We made the most of bad days and never complained nor dwelled on the negative aspect of our situation. We just kept on keeping on and brighter days finally appeared. Looking back, those were happy days. We worked, played and made every day count for something. We looked for the good things of life.

Good days or bad days are often in the way we perceive them. We cannot let one bad thing spoil an otherwise beautiful day. On bad days, we need to count our blessings.

Jim and I often talk about the trips we take. We know there will be a time when we will be unable to travel. When that day comes, we will look back and remember the wonderful trips we have made in the past. We will not consider our stay-at-home days as bad days, but will have great memories with no regrets. We will remember the cruises, trips to Missouri, coach trips and other times we have shared with friends and family.

Our friend, Ted, had the best outlook on life I have ever known. He said, “There is no good time to have a bad day.” Control your attitude and the day will govern itself. How we react to adverse situations is entirely up to us. We can rise above it, or let it pull us down to despair. The action or reaction is our choice.

On a down day, nothing perks us up like a delicious sandwich and pie supper. Merry Mary’s husband made this sandwich and I had to share it. He should be writing his own cooking column instead of me stealing all his good recipes.



Jerry’s Super Sandwich

2 slices bread (he used wheat berry)

2 slices ham

2 slices smoked turkey

2 slices pepper jack cheese

hot pepper jelly or chili sauce

Arrange meat, cheese and turkey on bread. Top with other slice of bread that has been spread with jelly or sauce. Make batter of one egg, 1/4 cup milk, and salt and pepper. Dip sandwiches in mixture and fry in skillet with butter until light brown and cheese melts.

Finish the meal with this pumpkin pie with a different twist that is simple but wonderful. I have sometimes used frozen crusts for this as the filling is the part you taste and remember.



Pumpkin Praline Pie

1 small can pumpkin (about 2 cups pumpkin pulp)

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

pinch of salt

1 unbaked pie shell

12 to 14 pecan halves



Combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spice and salt. Beat until smooth. Pour into pastry shell. Bake in 350 degree oven about 40 minutes. Place pecans on pie in circle. Continue to bake about 20 minutes until “set.” Serve warm or cool with whipped cream.



Send your comments to: Peggy Goodrich, Food For Thought, P.O. Box 1192, Enid, OK 73702.