Reaching for a box of golden raisins for my persimmon puddings in Ben Lomond market the other day, I smiled, remembering the little box of raisins that was pressed into my hand, oh so many years ago, but forever in my memory.
My Hubby Norm and I were living in Thousand Oaks at the time and planning to spend that Christmas in Chicago with his parents who I had yet to meet. Our plane tickets were for Christmas eve.
Our annual Christmas party for friends and business associates was the weekend prior, and I had a beautiful Christmas tree, decorated with handmade Christmas cookies, and not wanting them to go to waste, I looked for a place to donate the tree.
Someone suggested the home for those 40 adults with Cerebral Palsy, which was located just a few miles from our home. I went back to the Lions Club tree lot and asked if they would redeliver the tree for me and they were happy to do so at no cost to me.
The next day I found myself redecorating the tree in the large dining room of the home. Busy at my work, I hadn’t noticed the room filling with the wheelchairs of the people living there, until one woman wheeled up next to me and pointing her finger at a lower branch, she was asking me to place a cookie there where it was easier to see from her chair.
Soon, everyone became part of this silent decorating “game,” until the tree was filled with cookies, once again, and I was free to go.
This was a “silent” game, as most of the residents were unable to talk, and the artificial voice had not yet been discovered, or if it had, there was no money available to make such a purchase.
As I was about to leave, I felt a tug on my sleeve and the silent woman pressed a small box of raisins into my hand. Smiling up at me she “mouthed” thank you in her own way. I remember saying I would return soon to visit and I’m ashamed to say, I didn’t, until a year later and by then, that dear woman had passed.
Arriving home, I set that small box of raisins on my kitchen windowsill, and there it stayed until one day I picked up the box to throw it in the garbage. I hesitated and put it back where it had rested for a year.
The next morning, I called the cerebral palsy residence and made an appointment to visit. I felt the need to learn more about the residents living there, and find out, I did.
I learned just how much was needed as these two homes were not constructed to the needs of the residents; these were just regular houses purchased with the hope that someday they might be retrofitted to fit the needs of those with cerebral palsy.
At that time in my life, I belonged to the all-men Westlake Village Rotary Club, who were not too happy having a woman as a member of “their” club, so much so that an article on the front page of the Star newspaper stated that if Rotary brought in a woman, members would quit. I came in and NO member quit.
We all got along so well after the next few years, that members from the four Rotary clubs in the area raised over $400,000 to retrofit those two cerebral homes with power lifts to lower the residents into the bathtubs; we bought auto feeders, lowered closet poles so the residents could be somewhat self-sufficient, new kitchen appliances, covered the outdoor patio so they could enjoy the out of doors on hot days.
A Chevrolet dealership took on the servicing of their van at no cost and were able to transport them to the local YMCA for swimming pool therapy. Money was raised at the auto races and golf tournaments. All of this began with that little box of raisins.
Two years ago, I had another idea—that idea was to create a support system for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, making small repairs to their homes in order that they may live safely and comfortably.
Today, that idea has grown, along with the support of wonderful men and women, ALL volunteering their time through our new 501c3 nonprofit named Damians Ladder.
Since January of this year, we are nearing 300 answered requests for help and over 280 jobs have been completed. It is simple to request help—email at***********@da***********.org.
Imagine, all from a little box of raisins that sat on a shelf for a year!
Merry Christmas, dear Readers!
Hachiya Persimmon Pudding
Butter a pudding mold and set aside.
• 1-1/2 cups very mushy persimmons, reserve.
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
Sift together and set aside.
In a small bowl mix together and set aside:
• 2 Tbsp. hot water
• 1-1/2 tsp baking soda
In a mixing bowl add:
• 1 1/4 cup gran. sugar
• 4 Tbsp. soft butter
Beat together until light and fluffy.
Add to sugar mixture:
• 3 lg. eggs, one at a time
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup whole milk
• Baking soda mixture
• Persimmon mixture
Add:
Flour mixture to egg mixture and baking soda mixture along with:
• 1/4 cup Brandy
Add:
• 1/2 cup chopped Pecans
• 1/4 cup raisins
Pour into mold.
Set mold into a water bath halfway up the side of the mold.
Cover tightly with foil.
Simmer 3 hours. Turn off heat and let sit until cool to touch
Unmold while warm.
Colly Gruczelak, a Ben Lomond resident, loves people and loves to cook. Contact her at cz****@co*****.net.
