I knew this day would come…I am officially a ma’am. I was at the grocery store yesterday and was having a nice little conversation with the young checkout guy. Then, I moved down to pick up my bags of groceries and the young kid bagging the groceries started up a conversation.
Him – “How are you today, ma’am?”
Me, always willing to chat with someone – “I’m good…how are you doing?”
Him – “Well…it is 6pm on a Saturday night, I’ve been working since 10 and have to work until 8pm.”
Me – From somewhere deep inside me, comes the voice and wisdom of what must be a 90 year old woman…”Well, you have a job. That is a lot to be thankful for.”
Him, looking at me like I am insane – “Ma’am…it is 6pm on a Saturday night. I am thankful for my job, but I am also 16 years old. Work is really one of the last places I want to be on a Saturday night.”
End of conversation.
I had a birthday a couple of weeks ago. I am now the ripe old age of 34. I’ve gone up in the survey age range (are you…age 21-33, 34-50, etc) which first kind of shocked me. Now, I’m getting called ma’am at the grocery store and telling teenagers that they should be thankful to be working, bagging groceries, on a Saturday night. Did I not remember what it was like to have all of my friends hanging out while I was stuck at work? Apparently not because here I am being all old and fogey and getting strange looks from 16 year olds. When did this happen? When did I start getting crows feet and varicose veins? When did I start hearing the words of my own mother coming out of my mouth…”Because I’m the mom and I said so!” Heck…when did going to the grocery store on a Saturday night become the highlight of my day?
Aging really is not that bad. There are just sometimes that it shocks me a bit that I have come to this point in my life. I love my boring, little life, crow’s feet and all (however, I could do without those varicose veins!). One thing I do know about myself now compared to myself even 10 years ago…I couldn’t bake a thing when I was younger. I had no desire to bake. I just didn’t see the point of going to all that trouble for something you could buy at the store, or pop out of a Pillsbury can.
As a tribute to my aging self, I have decided to share with you a recipe that I make on an almost weekly basis at our home. I haven’t shared this with you in the past because to be honest with you… it never lasts long enough for me to snap a photo for you. This bread is so incredibly soft and the flavor is fantastic. Easy enough for the old and the young to make. I hope you enjoy!
Bread Machine Challah adapted from Recipezaar
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons margarine cut up
- 3 cups bread flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Instructions
- Add the water, the egg, the margarine, flour, sugar, salt & yeast to bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
- Set the machine to the dough cycle
- Once the dough cycle is complete, remove the dough from the machine and place in a lightly sprayed loaf pan.
- Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
- Place in a 350 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until brown on top and hollow sounding when tapped.
Dang it! Now I would have to buy a bread machine 😉
HeHe!! Welcome to the "old" World!
For a 16yr old, we might look like a Dinosaur! My daughter calls my new Toyota Highlander "old people’s car" bcos it’s silver colored!!
Bread looks yum, I will save the recipe!:)
Oh I am laughing here because I’m so much older than 34! Just wait; being called Ma’am is just the beginning.
After living here for 11 years I am very used to being addressed as ‘Madam’. So, when I’m in the U.S. and some child calls me ‘miss’ I want to slap them. What’s even worse is when some child decides he knows my nickname by looking at my credit card and says. "Have a nice day, Kathy" (Name: Kathleen, nickname: Kate, presumption: not priceless)
Still, I do remember my first ‘ma’am’ Welcome to the club!
Well, it does seem like an awful long day for a 16 year old. A 10-8 shift? Is it even legal for a 16 year old to work a 10 hour day? Maybe he was delirous with sleep deprivation.
hahhah that is a hilarious conversation, ma’am.
Your post really made me laugh, I am there too, with the whole turning into your mum, although that can’t be too bad a thing as my mums great! but I do think i am turning into a bit of a stickler for things done properly and this can turn into a nag!
I have a bread machine, but have never had a recipe that I really liked. I’m gonna have to try this out!
And there is nothing wrong with getting older!!!
Just wait until you are old enough for the Tuesday Senior Day at the grocery store—it is the highlight of my week to receive a 6% discount on everything I buy 🙂
Why is it always in the grocery store? I remember a woman telling her young son to let "the lady" go into line ahead because she only had a couple of items. I looked around for "the lady" only to discover I WAS "the lady"
You are totally not old! Especially because if you were, that would make me not far behind, and we all know that can’t be (veins and wrinkles or not!), hehe!!! 😉
Omigosh–"Holla for Challah" as my sister & I say when we used to buy Challah (the bakery closed, sigh….)! Yum!!! Great post!
I’m 28 and I am a ma’am. And I make remarks like that too. I’ve also been known to utter the phrase… da*n teenagers!
I must make this bread! It will be perfect for French toast!
My favorite part of Challah is always the egg wash top. Any suggestions for attempting that with this recipe?
I love the 34-year-old you! Aging isn’t so bad… most of the time. 🙂
Hi
Welcome to the "third age"…
If you prefer to stay in the kitchen- watch your steps… you know- your’e not teenager anymore….
Good luck in your new way…
:-))
It has never dawned on me to make Challah in a bread machine. I knew I was getting up there when VH1 had a best of the 80s. First, what am I doing watching VH1 and second, geeze the best of the 80s am I that old at 36?
I think I am going to have to make this next week. It looks very tempting.
Oh yes, turning into your mother is the scariest thing. I think the thing I’m hating most about getting older is getting blinder. My first bifocals- yikes!
I love using my bread machine so I’ll definitely have to give your challah recipe a try. Thanks!
Oh how I cringed the first few times someone called me ma’am…but then I try to remind myself that I could be called something way worse. L)
LOL, Kristen, my friend, every day that I go to college, I get called Ma’m. It’s what students call the female tutors.
Kristin I just don’t know what to tell you. At 62 I’m still not ready to be called ma’am. And it’s still a shock.
The bread is beautiful.
Dear Heart, just wait until they don’t even card you for the senior discount. A poet once said, Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be…the last of life for which the first was made. TRUE, except for wrinkles and aches and pains, etc.
Ah, I hear ya on the age thing. Grocery shopping is my big weekend event now too……thanks for this recipe. I’ve been wanting a challah recipe, and I think I’m getting a new bread machine for Christmas! Perfecto!!