A lady named Miss Carrie....

Miss Carrie Cole

Sadly, our paths would never cross, yet Miss Carrie and I share something rather unique in common....we both love to cook for our CMPD friends in blue.

When I hosted my first dinner in December 2009, I had never heard of Miss Carrie. It happened to be my birthday that day, but I didn't let on. Without question, it was (and still is) my best birthday ever! That was over 4-1/2 years  ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I guess that's because I was so nervous. I wasn't sure if anyone would come, but four officers stopped by that first night. 

A second dinner would soon follow in February 2010, and then another in April and May, and then breakfast started in June 2010 for first shift every other Saturday.

It didn't take long for Miss Carrie's name to come up in conversation. I could see a smile in the eyes of every officer who mentioned her name, as if they were remembering.

I am not a (real) cook like I think Miss Carrie was. I am limited on what I can cook because there are a lot foods that I do not like. How can you cook something if you don't know what it's supposed to taste like? So I stick to the kind of meals that you might find on a 'Blue Plate Special' like chicken pot pie, spaghetti, lasagna, meat loaf and pot roast -- the traditional 'comfort food'.

Over the years I have gotten to know which officers don't like tomatoes; some don't like peas; one officer doesn't eat pork. It is the cutest thing. Cooking for these officers really is like cooking for a real family and I try to be accommodating. When I sent an email out about my last Chicken Pot Pie dinner, I made a special point to say 'NO PEAS!"

Miss Carrie cooked Sunday meals for the CMPD for nearly 20 years. I have heard about Miss Carrie's fried chicken and wish she was here to show me how to make it the way she did.

Miss Carrie passed away December 22, 2004. If I could tell Miss Carrie's family one thing, I would want them to know how often I hear her name from my friends. Her memory is still very much alive in their hearts. The above picture of her hangs in the hallway at the CMPD Police Academy. Clearly she was loved by so many officers and by the Department.

Even though I never knew Miss Carrie, I think of her often. She is probably too busy and happy in Heaven to look down on us, but if she does, I hope she can see her friends are well-loved and appreciated.

♥