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All things being equal....

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

I’ve been thinking of my Mom a lot lately.

I guess it was back in the late 70’s when artificial sweeteners were first gaining popularity. We were discussing the mathematics of weight loss.

Mom: So if I just use this stuff instead of sugar in my tea, I’ll save about 80 calories a day. All things being equal, I’ll melt off 8 pounds a year with no effort at all.

I did my own calculations.

Me: Hey, Mom, That sounds pretty dangerous.

Mom: Why?

Me: Because all things being equal, you’ll melt completely away within 25 years.

My mother did use artificial sweeteners in her tea for the rest of her life. She did not melt off 8 pounds a year, though. For the rest of her life, any time either of us needed a laugh the other would say “All things being equal….”

Miss you, Mom.
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  • LINDAMARIEZ1
    I miss my Mom too! She use to use saccrine (sp) baaaaad stuff then NutraSweet in her last years! emoticon
    2176 days ago
  • SCOOTER4263
    That's a great story, and such a lovely memory. I kept waiting for some punchline about "all things being EQUAL".

    My mother was a terrifically complicated person, and she threw me a couple curves I'm still working out. I miss her every day.
    2177 days ago
  • KATHY47802
    I love this! I'll have to do this with my boys. What a fun quote to have between you!
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    2185 days ago
  • MARINEMAMA
    What a wonderful memory !! Great story...thx for sharing!!! emoticon
    2186 days ago
  • LADYIRIS313
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    That's an excellent memory - I like it. You must have really gotten a smile out of that.
    When I was visiting a family cabin with a friend, we had to do some kitchen clean-out for the season. Way back in a a drawer we found these hand printed notes from her mother and her mother's friends from decades back. It seems they used to come up to the cabin in the summers to diet - no grocery store for miles. They drew up these meal plans - oh lord they sounded awful.... saccharine sweetened jellos treats and boiled eggs and toast without salt. We could just imagine them - all in their gray sweats, doing calisthenics (and then cheating at night with a cocktail or two out on the deck).
    2189 days ago
  • CLOVER2
    How funny! Thanks for sharing the memory.
    I do miss my mom, but not for the reason most folks do. My mother is gone and will not come back. We will never be able to go back. It hurts my heart sometimes. I need to work on pulling up the sweet memories, there were those...lots of them, before things went really, horrendously bad.


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    2190 days ago
  • KMICHA
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    2191 days ago
  • TRAVELGRRL
    Such a wonderful story and memory...
    2191 days ago
  • KITT52
    what a sweet memory.....

    Have a healthy day
    2191 days ago
  • CARTOONB
    I love those inside jokes.
    2191 days ago
  • CHERYLA2012
    Aw! Love the Mom story.
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    2191 days ago
  • LIVE_AMAZINGLY
    What an endearing story! I can feel you hugging your mother emotionally in the story you told. It is so nice you have such warm memories.
    2191 days ago
  • SHERRY666
    WHAT A GREAT STORY AND SUCH A LOVING MEMORY TO HAVE OF YOUR MOM..... MINE IS STILL HERE AND I WISH I LIVED CLOSER....... AND COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER....... THANKS FOR SHARING AURLIE.. emoticon
    2191 days ago
  • LESLIESENIOR
    That is truly a sweet memory. You gave me a warm chuckle today. Thank you, Aurlie. I'm sure your mom is shining down and so proud of you.
    2192 days ago
  • TOKIEMOON
    Aurlie, what a sweet (no pun intended) story. It's evident where you get your sense of humor. I miss my mom too. It's been 25 long years. She was only 49 when she died from stomach cancer. I think the 'high' quality lunch meat we ate so much of (nitrites) probably contributed. Oh what we know now. I don't eat processed meats, nor do I use artificial sweeteners any more. emoticon emoticon
    2192 days ago
  • FELINEBETTER
    Cute story! If only it were that easy, eh? lol Thank you for sharing such a heart-warming memory and a laugh with us! emoticon
    2192 days ago
  • -WISPY-
    Thank you Aurlie. Loved that story. It sure didnt happen for me either. emoticon emoticon
    2192 days ago
  • MEADSBAY
    What a great story!
    I miss my mom, too- she was a bit kooky but so sweet.
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    2192 days ago

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