Go Bananas . . . Kindly

Today my baby daughter (who is 34, regardless of whether or not that meshes with my chosen age) must have surgery on a finger--a nerve and tendon repair after a rather dramatic injury. Trust me, she earns the nickname "Adventure Girl." I'll be accompanying her to the hospital, sitting in the waiting room . . . and stocking her apartment and fridge with a few food items, easy stuff, comfort food. Like her favorite tomato soup, and the fixings for sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches. And some healthful juices . . .

I'll also be bringing bananas.

 Not just because they are simple, yummy, and loaded with good stuff like potassium, but because my daughter and I have a banana legacy of sorts. It involved horses:

This is a photo of  my Adventure Girl at age 8, at her first horse show. First of many. Boots, wool coat, "rat catcher" shirt and collar, leather gloves, velvet hard hat . . . even in California's blazing sun. As a horse show Mom, I quickly learned to feed her on the fly between events--sometimes during. She likes to tease me about the time I stood at the rail as she and her horse warmed up: I waved a banana--insisted she trot by and take bites as she practiced.

Since that time, we've shared a silly mantra when faced with a challenge: "Eat a banana!"

Food is a common "Get well, Thinking of You, Thanks, I'm Sorry" offering--suitable for most occasions.

Like here, in this short snippet from my newly released novel, RESCUE TEAM.  Our heroine, nurse Kate Callison, has just gone through a very rugged few days. This scene is shown tthrough the eyes of her friend, a hospital volunteer. Who arrives, bearing food:

***

“Kate?” Judith held a cardboard coffee carrier in one hand, the scent of Starbucks wafting upward as she tapped on the door. “It’s Judith Doyle, from the hosp—Oh, hello.” She tried not to gasp as morning sun revealed the swollen bruise on Kate’s face. “I hope this is all right. That I’m here. Your address was on the thank-you card you sent after the auxiliary fund-raiser. . . .”

“Of course it’s fine. I almost didn’t recognize you without your pink uniform. Come in. The place is sort of a mess. I haven’t felt like doing too much since I got home yesterday.”

And haven’t slept either? There were shadows under Kate’s beautiful eyes. Judith could relate; she’d been awake most of the last two nights herself. Thinking. Then praying, at long last.

“The way you like it,” she said, lifting Kate’s coffee from the carrier after they settled on the couch. “And there are scones, too—maple oat nut and a blueberry. We never got a chance to meet for coffee last week. And now so many things have happened.” Her throat tightened at Kate’s expression. Her eyes were red like she’d been crying.

***

Yes, my characters must earn their happy endings!

Today I'll be toting Get Well, Love You bananas to my Adventure Girl.

How about YOU: Do you arrive at the doors of friends and family laden with food offerings? Have you been cheered, heartened, comforted by someome offering that kindness to you?