40 Diamonds for 40: Capers with Christine

Today is a very momentous day. Not only is it Christine's contribution to my 40 Diamonds at 40 project, but today is Christine's special "diamond" birthday as well. It's almost ten years to the month that Ms. Christine wandered into Caramoor, was assigned a desk in a shared office with me, and the merriment began.

Have you ever met someone and they fit in to the group as a whole, and your life in particular, like they were always meant to be there? Their humor, work ethic, ideology, and interests just sync up and it's like you always knew them?

I look back and can't believe it's only been 10 years since I met Christine. I can't believe that I haven't known her longer. I actually think we must have known each prior to this realm of existence, and it took until that fork in our life paths to finally cross. After all this time, we're still learning things about each other and probably will for the next 40 years. When we pass on to the next stage of this crazy cosmic conundrum, I really hope I'm assigned a cloud near hers.

I miss not working in the same place and City with Christine, but it's probably just as well. We used to rock the building with our laughter, to the point where we needed to be separated and certain GMs would bang on the floor to get us to quiet down. Even now, I can call her on the phone and leaves voice message of dubious distinction and cause her to crack up. Conversely, she can call me at the Big J and people down the halls come by to see why I'm laughing so loudly. They say laughter is healing and I think we're saving each other from the ridiculous, the incompetent, the bridezillas, WMD disguised as FMB, and people who are absolutely sure that she is their wedding coordinator.

My friend, I cannot thank you for saving me, tolerating me, humoring me, indulging me, traveling with me, driving me, schleping me, feeding me, housing me, amusing me, dealing with me, working with me, and rescuing me.

But enough about me ... You deserve the best. You are the best. You are wonderful, lovely, delightful, and really a true gem of a friend. You are one of the best diamonds in the whole world. May the sun always shine on you, east of the sun, west of the moon, and at the foot of the mountain.

Happy Birthday! I can't wait to party in Avalon in you. May it be the place of rest and enchantment that it's always been to this English major. Now, are you Arthur and I'm Merlin? Actually, I think you are Gawain.

February 21, 2012

Today is an important date for Auntie Nettie and me (well, at least in my opinion). Today marks 9 years and 11 months since we met at Caramoor. Little did I know that she would be and remain such an important spirit in my professional and personal life. Looking back at our almost 10-year history, I can’t help but chuckle out loud and often. I guess you have to be there for most of our adventures and moments of hilarity that only two friends can understand and instantly recall with just a certain look in the eye or gesture. She became my immediate friend and partner in crime. Such a title doesn’t come without a bit of abuse – I still have scars from all the rubber bands she shot at me while I was on the phone! But the comic relief was necessary when work became too stressful and one wanted to bang their head against a very hard surface. I believe in one of the policy and procedure manuals written by Auntie Nettie, there are specific instructions on where and how to do such a task. And when the going got really tough, she bought me lots and lots of potato chips and Diet Coke (what a temptress!)

It’s best that I don’t go into detail about my feelings of dreadfulness and sadness when Auntie Nettie decided it was time to move on from Caramoor. After the dust settled and Auntie Nettie landed at the Big J., our phone conversations continued as if nothing changed. We made plans – lots of plans – and traded work meetings for road trips! I can’t imagine all the experiences I would have missed out if it wasn’t for Auntie Nettie. My birthday weekend in Newport (the laughter, silliness, braving cold ocean waters in March); all the trips to the Botanical Gardens (the walks, the talks); Montauk escape (Manucci’s seafood stew, climbing to the top of the lighthouse, trying to find the Big Duck); and a couple of trips to Cape Cod (bike riding – which I still think she hasn’t forgiven me for, sand between the toes, dreams of another lifestyle, never wanting to leave). But the most memorable moment for me will always be how my dear Auntie Nettie unknowingly fulfilled a 24-year old dream of mine to see one of my favorite music groups – the Norwegian band a-ha! Every song of the “Ending on a High Note” concert performed by Paul, Mags and Morten still runs through my mind. This concert has forever bonded us. There will be times Auntie Nettie is hundreds of miles away and she will text me “just heard ‘Take On Me’…” Of course during all the adventures, it would be wrong of me not to give a shout-out to the Shushing Librarian who’s been a great companion on many of our trips, including ‘rushing the stage’ and getting quite friendly with one of the bouncers at the a-ha concert. Aw, the memories!

I hope that Auntie Nettie and I continue to plan many adventures during the next 40+ years. My travel partner she will forever be. I also hope she is loves her birthday present, which of course is another trip! Here are some of my favorite photos from the times we’ve shared together (which I hope she doesn’t delete!) Auntie Nettie, I love you and wish the absolute best birthday!

(Auntie Nettie says, don't make me stab you with this crochet hook

or I will strangle you with this yarn!)

A very happy girl getting ready to see a-ha!Embracing life on the Cape

Doing her thing at the Botanical Gardens

If Auntie Nettie had a Facebook page, this would be her profile picture.At her favorite beach on the CapeThe two of us chillin' on Montauk

Our favorite view: Sunset on the Cape

40 Diamonds for 40: Triumphant Tammy

Whenever I'm having a bad day I am now fortunate enough to have many love letters from my family and friends to refer to, to lift my spirits, including this one from my long-time friend, Tammy.

If I am ever whiny, cranky, or complaining about my lot in life, I should remember Tammy and how, despite everything that she has faced, she has come through--tired and a bit bruised, but with two lovely and loving children; higher college degrees, a position of respect, responsibility, and authority; humor and dignity; and hopefully, a better sense of her self-worth.

Her photo should appear in the dictionary next to the words:

triumphant /tri-um-phant/
adjective:
1. Having won a battle or contest; victorious.
2. Feeling or expressing jubilation after having won a victory or mastered a difficulty.

heroic /he-ro-ik/
adjective:
1. having the characteristics of a hero or heroine; very brave.

Fanatic /fuh-nat-ik/
noun:
1. a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal, as in religion or politics or a particular popular hair band from New Jersey.

Tammy is such a super fan of Bon Jovi that a) she originally requested that this be posted on Jon Bon Jovi's 50th birthday (sorry Tammy -- you were too late!) and b) she usually drops some quote, lyric, or reference into just about anything.

I'd think this was weird, except I have my own fanaticism (see any and all a-ha posts) and I've known her a very long time.

Tammy honey, I am so proud of you, for so many things. Keep breathing. Remember to take some time for yourself once in a while. Remember, so many people are here for you and have your back. You just have to stop and let us be there for YOU every so often.

This is how the dictionary defines FRIEND:

Friend (noun)
(1) Somebody emotionally close – somebody who trusts and is fond of another, (2) Acquaintance – somebody who thinks well of or is on good terms with somebody else, (3) Ally – an ally, or somebody who is not an enemy, (4) Advocate of cause – a defender or supporter of a cause, group, or principle, (5) Patron – a patron of a charity or institutions, (6) A contact on a social marketing website.

And beside the definition is where a picture of Auntie Nettie should appear!

Auntie Nettie and I met my freshman year of college – in choir practice – where she routinely beat on me. As a junior, it was kind of her responsibility. Then she became a senior, graduated, and went on to the ‘real world,’ never to be heard from again, or so I thought. At the end of the summer just before my senior year started, I received a voice message from her. She said she knew of an entry level position at a music organization she worked for, would I be interested, and oh, by the way, you’d be working for the “devil*.” I applied, was offered the position, and accepted. We worked there together for 10 years.

During those years, she taught me how to use a fax machine, was the first person I called when I needed a word for whatever document I was working on, took me shopping for my wedding dress, crafted the most lovely party favors, was there for the birth of my two children (made them the most beautiful baby blankets and Christmas stockings), and stood beside me, hugged me, and let me cry when my marriage fell apart – and gave me chocolate chip oatmeal cookies!

We don’t talk every day, in fact sometimes we don’t talk for months. She knows I’m the worst at keeping in touch, but she goes out of her way to make sure we schedule a date together and plan something that is fun for the kids (a trip to the Botanical Gardens, skating at Bryant Park). And that is what makes Auntie Nettie the definition of a friend. Days or months can pass and when we do connect, it’s as if no time has elapsed. The conversation picks up right where it left off. She’s someone you can trust with your secrets, she always has your back, stands by her principles, and she has given her life to every charity she’s touched. On top of all that, she is a witty, crafty, intelligent, beautiful person that knows it’s the tiniest details that make the biggest impact.

Thank you for asking me to write this, even though you know I hate to write (and have procrastinated all but the last few hours of the 188 days notice you gave me). I’ve enjoyed the trip down memory lane and it’s made me realize more than ever that the best is still to come. So, my FRIEND, as you move on to your next chapter give some thought to my favorite equation:

PASSION + PERSEVERANCE = POSSIBILITIES (JBJ)

Happy Birthday and Hugs,
Tammy


*The "devil" is a very nice man who had anger-management issues at the time that Tammy was looking for work. He has since "mellowed," and/or my threshold for "devilry" has changed, and/or I have my own anger-management and "issues" so his don't seem so bad in retrospect. (And yes, I know I'm using the quotes "ironically.")

Recipes from Aunt Flora -- Annie's Hummus

Now that spring temperatures are starting to return, it's not fun to have the oven fired up all the time. The family recipe book does have sections on things other than baked good, i.e. dips, soups, drinks, and meals, etc. This one for hummus caught my eye.

A word about the family recipe book -- it was created probably 20 years ago now, just before the globalization of our palates. American have adopted and adapted many European and Mexican flavors and food over the years, but some things we now take for granted, things like pitas, kebabs, flat bread, falafel and hummus were once considered exotic. One of Aunt Flora's daughters Annie, married L---- whose family was from the Middle Eastern area, and thanks to him, family recipes have a whole new flavor profile. Dad's side of the family has been ahead of the curve for years!

Rather than make this one myself, though I actually have almost every thing in the fridge and cupboard (including the tahini), I thought I'd just post this for posterity's sake and use this dark cellphone photo from my local grocery store to illustrate just one section of the convenience take-out: white bean hummus, chick pea hummus, flavored, plain, exotic, garnish, colored, etc. etc. etc.

My favorite are the spicy ones: jalapeno, hot and spicy, but most especially the Trader Joe's three-layered with the jalapeno/cilantro blends. Hummus is ridiculously easy and cheap to make -- but we all just end up buying these.

Annie's Humus (Garbanzo Bean Dip)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cans garbanzo beans
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup tahini

Boil beans with liquid and baking soda for 15 minutes on low heat. Drain and rinse in colander. Pour into blender, add other ingredients and blend until smooth. Add more lemon if needed. Eat as a dip with Arabic bread. Husband added a dash of cumin or sometimes 2 scallions, chopped.

40 Diamonds for 40: Note from Nicole

Nicole, aka Nicolai, Nikki, etc. is one of the few friends from high school with whom I'm still in touch. Ironically, she and Jenn now live in the same town but only seem to see each other when I visit Connecticut. Turns out, I'm the common link in that high school chain of acquaintance. I think they are getting better about getting together without me because I get weird texts from time to time from one about contacting the other. (Just do it girls!)

Honestly, I can't remember which of my classes overlapped with Nicole's so that we first met. As you'll see below, it definitely wasn't the many music, choir, theater, or arts classes. It had to be History or Social Studies or something like that, because that's how we got involved in the trip to the Soviet Union. Also, we were probably bonded by our many extra-curriculars. While I had all the Church-related stuff after school and weekends, Nicole competed, and competed hardcore, in equestrian events, specially jumping events. I may have mentioned (oh, once or twice) that I was horse-crazy as a kid, but aside from a couple of summer of lessons, it's been a admiration-from-a-distance thing. Here was Nicole, who had a horse of her very own! And competed! And was nice! And wasn't snotty about it like some horse-clique folks were! And who was too busy to deal with some of the usual high school high jinx and popularity contests too!

There there was the trip itself. If traveling internationally in the 1980s, on Soviet-era Aeroflot planes, brushing your teeth with, and drinking, Pepsi, sharing what passed as bathrooms in many hotels with high school boys, rejoicing in landing in Sweden and heading out to the Hard Rock Cafe and McDonalds, and spending hours together on a bus, train, plane, and foreign hotel room doesn't bond you for life, I don't know what will.

After high school, Nicole was one of the few people that actually visited one of the Attic's first locations in Westchester, staying overnight while her company sent her to the City for a conference. Fortunately for me, she is always so kind to make time for a brief catch-up meal or visitation when I do make it back to Connecticut. Her husband Scott, two boys, and lovely Rhodesian Ridgeback Jasmine, are very fortunate in this Disney-loving princess. She's a true gem too.

Top row: Nicole in one of our Russian hotel rooms, meeting up with young Russians, and the hospitality of Communist-era "fine dining";
Bottom row: Nicole's high school yearbook photo, and one of her prom pictures with a very forgettable date who she did NOT marry, her wedding invitation, and a candid of Nicole and Scott at their wedding

Ah yes, what can be said about Auntie Nettie? The first thing that comes to my mind is thoughtfulness. You are the only person (besides my husband) that actually remembers my anniversary. AND you actually send me snail mail in honor of it!!

The second thing I think of is... no way are you 40. It just sounds so crazy. Because if you are 40, then I am right around the corner. And I am just not mature enough to be there yet.

It is hard to believe we have known each other since high school. You were my only artsy friend back then. Oh wait... you STILL are my only artsy friend. ;) I still have a little pin you made me with a horse on it that said good luck that I brought to my horse shows. It is sitting in my office with all my pics of Bruiser [Nicole's retired jumper].

My favorite memory of us is from sophomore year. We were sporting lovely 80's perms... and we were going to RUSSIA!!! There was a mismatch of boys and girls for rooming purposes and we were forced to [share a bath]room with two guys. Why? Because we were the most trustworthy of the group! I am still not sure if that was a good thing or not. ;) That was such an amazing trip. [I] drank WAY too much sugary tea and [we] ate WAY too little actual food.

I am so happy that we are still in touch even though we see way too little of each other. And it is totally my turn to come visit you! Although my suitcase is bigger than your place. I'm just sayin....

Love you lots! Have a wonderful birthday celebration!!!!

Nicole

Спасибо ("spa-see-ba") - Thank-You Nicolai my friend!

40 Diamonds for 40: Dan, my brother from another mother

Of all the Christmas letters I sent out with the request to participate in this little vanity project, this is the one I pondered about the most and wondered if I was doing the right thing. You see, this was the letter that I sent to the wife of my "old friend" Dan asking if she would be okay if he participated. I believe in making sure that the mate of your friends of the opposite sex are okay with you communicating with them, especially when there is "history."

When you get to this age, some of your friendships have multiple layers to them. Since this blog is part therapy/part historical record for the nieces and nephews, I thought it was important to try and get a cross section of all eras of my life to be represented. So far, family has chimed in, as well as friends from my high school, college, and work lives. But I've also had church friends, as well as friends that moved through different labels depending on our "status." This is the tale of my church friend, first boyfriend, and then first ex-boyfriend, and my "older brother," Dan.

I first met Danny, now known as Dan, at church when my family moved from Utah to Connecticut in 1980. His family too, had relocated from Utah, and our congregation was pretty small. It was inevitable that since we were within a few years of each other, our social spheres were going to overlap. We had Primary together, then youth activities, seminary, temple trips, etc. Basically, a bunch of us grew up together. We were "church friends" for many many years.

Our religion is very conservative, and there are definite guidelines about just about everything. Including dating: when to date, how to date, how to avoid getting into areas of temptation, etc. Being properly brought up, Dan waited for me to be old enough to date, and then was probably the best first boyfriend a girl, or her parents, could ever ask for. Out of respect for his wife, that's all I'm going to say about that period of our relationship.

Now, perhaps it was because we had been friends for so long, it was difficult for me to initiate the conversation that changed our status once again. But it ultimately was for the best. Dan continues to be a gentleman, as you'll see below, but it did take some time to circle back to being the fraternal platonic friends that we were and are.**

In another Mormon tradition, we exchanged letters while he was on his mission, but it was always as friends, with my "older brother" giving advice that I really should have followed more. But what sister completely, or ever, listens to her sibling?

Time has gone on. Dan met the lovely and generous MickiAnne, married, settled down, and has three children. Thanks to MickiAnne's approval there were occasional phone calls and e-mails, a brief visit when their two boys were really young, as well as her annual Christmas cards. Thanks to the latter, I am more aware than ever of the passage of time. Their eldest is now in high school! Their youngest, a daughter, is the age that I was when I moved to CT. How is it possible?

Intellectually, I know that time has passed. I sure as heck see it in the mirror everyday, but perhaps because I haven't seen him very often, when I read Dan's entry, I still see the high school boy who was my friend and still is one of my other brothers.

Thank you to MickiAnne and to Dan too. We're not old, just more "mature."

Says Dan: You might have turned 40 but I'm going to turn 43 and can't blog, stay away from Facebook and don't get me started on twitting. I sent my first text today. I will do my best. Here we go:

Little sis,

I have known [Auntie Nettie] since we were kids. I don't remember when her family moved in to the area and the ward (branch at the time).

I think we really started hanging out in 1987, my senior year of high school. We spent a lot of fun times going to her high school football games. I remember going to the games, a lot of rainy nights and getting wet. I had a lot of fun. Of course she wasn't 16 yet so we couldn't date, so I had to meet her there at the games, but we still had a lot of fun. After the season was over we didn't do a lot but church activities and somehow we started to like each other and after she turned 16 we could finally start dating. Of course we had to double date at first, friends from church and school. It wasn't until months later we could go out by ourselves. She went to senior prom with me; that was a big dress, southern-belle-type with a metal hoop***. Also who could forget my graduation party at the Four-H Club where we played tennis for hours? Didn't stop until after midnight. That was a lot of fun.

After school got out and the summer came there was youth conference. That was fun as well, but it was the start of the end as boyfriend and girlfriend. The nice thing was that when we broke up and said we should still be friends, we were. The relationship of dating just stopped and the relationship of just being friends took over. I think she is the only person I dated and then ended up being better friends after than before.

[She] became my little sister and I became her big brother. She is the oldest of three and I am the youngest of five. It was nice for her to have a big brother to talk to about things and it was nice for me to have a little sister to help and listen to. Since then we have kept in touch somewhat, have seen each other a couple times, Christmas cards and so on. Even though we don't talk or see each other a lot, I still feel like we are as good of friends as we have always been.

[Nettie] is very talented and one of the nicest people I know. Happy 40th, you old lady, and many more to come.

P.S. Every year you get older so do I!

{Auntie Nettie says: And if THAT isn’t a snarky older brother comment, I don’t know what is!}

** Also, in fair disclosure, this is the ONLY relationship I have had where I still am on good terms, or any terms, with my ex. I really think that being friends for so long really made the difference. Given my past dating history, I think I can fairly confidently say that I am better as a friend than as a girlfriend. Well, except for G-Dawg. We have a *very* "special" relationship status.

***Do you know how hard it is to find a dress that fits a curvy body type, that conforms with conservative dress standards, is affordable, is flattering, and is timeless? The 1980s were NOT good for hair or fashion styles for anyone. If you honestly thought I was dragging out prom photos, you are reading the wrong blog.

40 Diamonds for 40: ReKonnecting with Kari

I was very fortunate to meet some of my closest friends during my undergraduate college years. Through some of the most tumultuous, life-shaping, personality-defining years, a group of ladies began to swirl out of the cosmos and settle into my orbit. I'm proud to say, most are still part of my universe of friends.

One of the more quirky celestial bodies would fly in and out of my sphere quite a bit. While there was the core group I've mentioned earlier, there was always this one bright shiny comet that I could never figure out. She'd flit in and out, and I was always a little blinded by her swift arrival and departure.

Kari was another fellow English major, so we'd find ourselves in many of the same group of classes, sharing TAs, reading lists, and study groups, plus an interest in music. While I was a pianist, Kari was once a beautiful lyric soprano, and we'd spend some time away from Chaucer and the dang Norton Anthologies hacking around in a practice room. While I'd be doing early morning shifts on the reception desks or late nights working as an activity/space coordinator, she'd either be off in theatrical productions, contemplating the mysteries of life with philosophy majors, hanging with other groups at the school that were totally foreign to me, or doing other better-to-remain-mysterious things. Some nights though, I'd be in one of my dorm rooms studying or working on a paper, and a knock would sound and she'd pop in and stay for a bit, talking, or just hanging out, or even napping (don't poke the sleeping Kari), and then she'd be off again. Here I was, this fat, shy, socially awkward girl, from the poor side of Connecticut, who didn't smoke, drink, or go to the school parties, or have a boyfriend (for some of the time), and I couldn't figure out at ALL why this thin, very outspoken, very opinionated, blonde, smart, former ballerina, from Fairfield (aka the richer part of Connecticut), with the boy friends, boyfriends, and all kinds of friends, would at all want hang out with me. She says I was "amused" by her, it was more bemused and befuddled. Not wanting to scare her off, I never asked her about all this during school.

We even spent a few summers living and working on campus, so that gave us a chance to spend time together (especially the summer she had both ballet-gnarled feet cracked and reset.) I met her parents, and they kept us both fed on Arnold Bakery bread. Some of her high school friends came to visit, and one even ended up marrying another of our college friends. Senior year for us was particularly interesting and intense. She took her English Comps earlier than the rest of the class, and moved off campus to Rye, so those late-night drop-ins started to decrease. By spring semester, I had moved off-campus to Port Chester and was working at an internship in Manhattan, only on campus on weekends and the occasional weeknight for classes. However, we stayed close in our affections for our English Professor, Dr. Perret. In our explorations of local thrift/antiques shops, we found an old tarnished suit of armor and presented "George" to Dr. P, as thanks for all the adventures, advice, meals, and time at ye old alma mater.

Now it may be hard to believe, but the early '90s was the pre-cell, pre-e-mail, pre-Internet, pre-social media era, so it took an effort to stay in touch. Post-graduation was a blur of getting established in careers, life, and then--in-a-blink-of-an-eye--16 years have past. Thanks to letters, phone calls, wedding announcements, kids photos, Christmas cards, e-mails, tag-you're-it voice mail chains, texts, tweets, blogs, etc., it hasn't felt like 16 years. ... or didn't until January 2012 ... when down the dark, windy streets of Chicago walked my still-miraculously blonde friend into a very long, overdue hug and tears. It was a perfect way to kick off our 40th year, and am I so glad that her husband and kids helped me pull off the "surprise" and let me come and hang out with them. You'll get to read more about that soon, but for now ... here are just a few pics of Kari and Nettie, past and present.

Love ya Kari. So much. So proud of you too.

Where to start? When I think about Auntie Nettie…she has been a constant in my life since 1990. Four years of college—sharing classes, lecture notes, gossip (mostly me), and confidences. I moved to Chicago in 1994 and got a chance to see Nettie in 1995 when she so graciously hosted me upon my unceremonious return to NY for a friend’s wedding. She was, as always, welcoming (think Prodigal Son here), and just a tad bit amused by me—in fact, I think that she’s always been a bit “amused” by me and with my behavior, drama, and ideas.

So fun trip, short re-connection in person “how can we have been away from M’ville for a whole year!” visit…FLASH FORWARD…it’s January 2012.

16 years later … Nettie and I re-cemented our friendship when she visited me in Chicago (o.k., the Western Suburbs of Chicago). She met my husband of 14+ years, my three crazy girls—to whom she’s always been a wonderful, benevolent, if technically unknown, force in the universe—and reaffirmed for me what a FRIEND truly is. Nettie is a keeper; a person with whom I trust the things in life I hold dear and to whom I will always be in debt—for the depth of her friendship and for being that person I can cry to and brag with and share the self I am sometimes embarrassed by.

Nettie,

Happy Birthday (think four-part melody here) Have a good 40th year.

Shakti (Strength), Ananda (Bliss), Moeksha (Freedom).

Be well, be happy and be YOU!!
(But not in an Oprah-ish kind of way, that's just gross.)

Much love from IL,

KC

P.S. I miss you!

Recipes from Aunt Flora -- Becky's Nestle's Oatmeal Scotchies

I've been a bit busy lately and haven't really had time to stock up the larder. Supplies are running low, and demand from the IT guinea pigs is running high. They keep requesting "crispy" stuff. You would think they would be happy to get ANYTHING, but ...

So, knowing what I had in stock, I flipped through the family cookbook and found this recipe. As long as I could swap out butter for margarine, I figured ... why not?

Nestle’s Oatmeal Scotchies

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
? teaspoon salt (I used a half a teaspoon)
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup margarine, softened (I used butter)
¾ cup white sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups uncooked oats
12 oz. packaged butterscotch morsels (mine was 11 oz., sneaky!)
(handfuls of chopped pecans)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine margarine, sugar, brown sugar, 2 eggs and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in oats and butterscotch morsels (and nuts.)
Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake at 375 for 7-8 minutes.
Makes 4 dozen.

Few comments, the recipe called for salt, but none was in the list of the ingredients. I opted for 1/2 a teaspoon to be on the safe side. I also chucked more nuts in there to up the crunch factor. My oven must run REALLY slow, or the parchment paper makes a difference, because these took closer to 15 minutes to really brown up. There were probably more than 4 dozen cookies, but I had to quality control taste test them. If I didn't, they would have been chewy and not crispy. They did "firm" up the more they cooled, but I seriously baked those suckers.

I hope the boys chip a tooth!

Crispy ... Auntie Nettie .... We like crispy cookies. (**grumble grumble*** ... MUHAHAHAHAHA, I'll show them!)