I thought that was you. . .

I passed an officer today in my little Puff Truck on my way to pick up a grocery order. Well, I didn’t pass them because of speed, I passed them because their lane was backed up and the traffic wasn’t moving along like it should. There was a time I would look to see if I knew the officer (and wave), but things have changed so much over the years, I don’t know many officers in my own division anymore and they don’t know me. Retirements, promotions, transfers, new recruits etc.

Were all those years of meals for naught?

I made a right turn into a shopping center to pick up my grocery order, and the officer went straight. I pulled into the designated pick-up space and was waiting for the store clerk to come out with my order. A few minutes later, a saw a police SUV slowly making its way through the parking lot and pulled right in front of my truck and turned on their steady blue light. An officer got out who I recognized. They came over to my passenger window and said “Hi, Ann…I thought that was you”, and they asked how I had been. The officer said my name had come up recently with another officer and they were thinking back to all those dinners at my table (lunch too) and how much they enjoyed them. One officer told me years ago how much he loved to hear during roll call that “Miss Ann is cooking dinner tonight.” I think it gave some of the officers something to look forward to during a long workday and it gave me something to look forward to as well. I have been on 5 ride-alongs and sometimes these officers are eating on the go or not at all.

During Covid, gatherings everywhere were prohibited and my home was no exception, and after Covid, the dinners just never started up again. I told the officer I wasn't sure if they could come anymore. They moved into their new division office during this time and it isn't as close to my home as it once was, and their territory is huge. But the officer seemed to think they could come -- occasionally anyway. So maybe there’s a possibility I can reconnect with some of these nice officers in my own division. Hosting these meals was special for me — being able to provide a comfortable safe place where they could talk about their day, even if only for a few minutes. Some officers would no sooner arrive when they’d get a priority call for service and need to leave pronto. I would quickly help the officer fix a To-Go box, complete with a side salad, utensils, and a cream puff.

Maybe a Christmas gathering...I would love that so much!

So to the officer who took the time and effort to go to the next light and turn around just to look for me, thank you! It meant more to me than you will ever know. And that brings me back to an earlier question…were all those years of meals for naught? Absolutely not. Truth is, you can’t worry about whether they were or weren't. It’s not about me. Bringing joy to others is never wasted. It always matters. It gave me a sense of family and belonging back then, and today—five years later—that same joy circled right back to me. 💙

Side note: I have had so much going on over the past five years and I have neglected my blog. I'm still here though, and I'm still serving my friends. I'll try to update you all in future posts -- little by little. 

My little Puff Truck

I stand with this line.....

With Covid-19 and other world events going on, it hasn't been a good time for the officers to gather at my table. I miss seeing my friends around the table and looking out the window waitng for the first patrol car to round the corner, but it's not about me....it's about them, so I have been making a few meal deliveries. 

I have delivered meals before, but with so much unrest right now, it felt different. So much pressure on law enforcement officers. Protesting at unprecedented levels; so much hate; so much uncertainty. And for all those that disrespect the badge, the officers have to protect even those who hate and protest against them. 

They're our protectors. We work, and they protect. We sleep, and they protect.

I am so proud of my own CMPD and the few officers that I was honored to feed this past month.    

I made lasagna each time because it's so easy to transport. But after three deliveries and nine pans of lasagna in the last month, this will be it for lasagna for a while. I say that now, but truth be known, if they said that's what they wanted for dinner....that's what I'd make. 

Thursday, June 11 was lunch for the South Division. What a nice visit. I haven't seen these officers since March when Covid-19 exploded so I was really looking forward to my visit. It is the South Division officers I have known the longest, even though so many from my early days of cooking have now retired. I usually set up my meals in the roll call room. I was  there for about 2-1/2 hours as I watched the officers come, eat, and go. We kept our distance and we did a few 'elbow bumps' to say hello and goodbye. I'm smiling just thinking about it. That's my happy place. 

Friday, June 26 was dinner for the awesome detectives with the ABC Unit. Really, just a super bunch of guys. They have gathered at my table a few times and I have delivered once before. They all were so welcoming and made me feel like I was a family member they hadn't seen for a while. A few were sharing family and pet pictures with me from their cell phone while we enjoyed a nice dinner. They always make me feel like part of the family. I received a nice thank you note from the sergeant a few days later which surely guaranteed another dinner in their future. So nice....thank you, Sir. It was my pleasure.   

Saturday, July 18, I delivered lunch to the brave officers in the Independence Division. This was my first visit to Independence. After 10 years of cooking for my friends, I still get a little nervous when feeding a new bunch of officers, and nervous, in general, when I'm cooking for others, but the officers were very personable and made me feel welcome. 

I was so pressed for time I didn't take one photo. With 12 officers standing in line for food, taking a few photos for this blog post was not an option. The photos in this post are from my June 11 lunch, but the meals were identical.  :)

I tried my best to arrive 20 minutes early, but it's very hard. Everything is so unpredictable. Kitchen snafus, under-estimating cooking time, forgetting the ice (which is what happened Saturday). Oh, I remembered it, but I forgot to put it in the car. I'm not a professional caterer -- just a working girl -- and an 'old' working girl at that. The heat index was like 102 degrees outside, so after 6-7 trips from the kitchen to the garage to load the car, I looked like I had mowed the yard by the time I arrived. But I can't complain when these officers are working in this heat wearing a 6 lb. bulletproof vest and a 20 lb. duty belt. God bless them all! Now I know why one of my officers loves winter so much.  

This was the second time I made the lasagna the night before and popped them in the refrigerator to cook the next morning, but allowing enough time to bring them to room temperature takes longer than you would think. As a result, I had to cook them longer -- I just couldn't get them to heat through. So STRESSFUL! Because of the extra cooking time, I thought they were rather on the dry side, so I won't make these a day ahead again.   

One officer invited me to do a ride-along which made me feel all the more welcome. They are more than happy for you to ride with them if you complete the required paperwork and application (and I have to complete it too each time), but I can't recall anyone ever asking me first. I have done four ride-alongs in the past 10 years (South, Steele Creek, Metro, and Hickory Grove). I enjoy seeing the response area each officer is protecting -- some roads I have never traveled. I'll enjoy a ride with Independence in the near future.

My long-time and best girlfriend in Tampa surprised me with a generous contribution towards my lunch for Independence. I won't call her out so not to embarrass her, but last week she sent me a photo taken several years ago of the two of us and another mutual friend. I was expecting the photo in the mail, but the check that fell in my lap was a big surprise. You are a true 'BLUE' friend, dear girl, and I love you. 💙  We all have that one 'forever' friend, and she is mine.

While coordinating this lunch, in one of my emails exchanges with the sergeant, he ended his email with "Thanks so much for caring for us." 

It made me tear up a little.

You are very welcome, Sir....you are very welcome!

♥