Cry Baby Cookies

Garage sales can be surprising and interesting.  They also can be a lot of work.   But to tell you the truth, I really prefer to just pack it up and drop it off at our local Navy Relief Thrift Shop. 

But, the garage sale that we had this past week was different.   After about 4 hours of haggling it felt like it was time to throw in the towel and close up shop.  That was until a gentleman decided to buy my son’s skateboard.   

My daughter and I started to visit with the man.  His faded ball cap said “CPO Retired.”   We learned that he was 78 years old and that his wife had passed last year from brain cancer.  For some reason, time stood still.  We visited as if we were long lost friends. 

He told us he was a Baker/Cook in the navy.   He had to audition to become the ships’ baker.  As he was describing decadent pastries he could make, they challenged him and said “prove it.”  His father had a bakery and had put him to work by the age of 10.   For his first challenge, he baked 28 trays of the most beautiful pastries.  He offered them delights of cream puffs to beautiful crusty French bread… he got the job.

He told us of the time he was on the USS New Jersey and they would shoot the guns of the battle ship for practice. The command would first check to see if he had a cake or bread in the oven, so they would not damage the rising process.   When the guns were shot off, the ship would travel backwards 500 yards!  He said that they could shoot at a target 22 miles away and hit it dead center!

Our CPO friend’s specialty was “Cry Baby Cookies.”  They contain ginger, coconut & maraschino cherries.  I was all in until I heard about the cherries…  But, it sounded as though he was describing a work of art. 

My daughter and I were enjoying the stories that he shared. We felt that we traveling in time and experiencing these stories first hand.  Eventually it was time for him to move on.  I am sure that standing around visiting for almost an hour was a bit taxing.

Days later, as my husband was leaving the house, he came back in carrying a large grocery bag.  “This was hanging on our front door’s knob.”  Attached was a yellow sticky note reading “Cry Baby Cookies.”  My daughter and I both screamed “CRY BABY COOKIES?!!!”

We don’t know who our mystery man is.  If it’s you, thank you!  They were delicious! 

To you and all who serve our country now, past and present:  Thank you from the bottom of my soul, for protecting me, my family, friends, and this GREAT country of ours.