Watts Consulting

More than you ever wanted to know about Alabama native Joe Watts

Family

Aunt Gladys’ Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Ever since I can remember, my Aunt Gladys made chocolate chip cookies for me every Christmas. She passed away several years ago and hadn’t been able to make cookies for a few years before that, but every time I bite into a chocolate chip cookie, I think of her. There was really nothing like watching her pull those trays of cookies out of the oven.

She was one of those people that lived an amazing life, another of those folks from the greatest generation. She moved to Alaska before World War II and lived there for over 20 years. She taught school and met her husband (Uncle Edward) while in Alaska.  They even used a dog sled to commute sometimes. This is her in an early photo (I have tray upon tray of Uncle Edward’s photos–his love of photography is something I picked up too). A different world…

Anyway, about 9 years ago, while working at Southern Progress (a publishing company that produces Cooking Light and Southern Living) I submitted a recipe for my Aunt Gladys’ Chocolate Chip cookies. It ran, along with a short story about her, in the book Christmas with Southern Living. I, of course, gave a copy to her and lots of family members–she was pleased. Nothing else on that for these 9 years, but then, just last week one of my sisters got the recipe in an email from her recipe a day email newsletter–lo and behold, there it was. Here’s a link: cookies

The War: Watch It

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Ann and I recently (well, several months ago, actually) watched the Ken Burns documentary, The War. I’d suggest anyone who hasn’t seen it watch it. I have always been interested in WWII, but watching this really got me thinking. These folks really were the greatest generation. And listen to the music that goes along with it–I’d be hard-pressed to find better music than some of the awesome music on the soundtrack. Benny Goodman. I really wish that my father had been around to watch this–and I know that my mother would have been glued to the TV–this would have been an easy Christmas present for them both.

I guess what made me think of this today was that I was chatting with someone yesterday and mentioned the series to them. They hadn’t watched it. For some reason, when it was announced I think I thought of it like it was the Super Bowl. I still can’t even begin to imagine why anyone didn’t watch it, but if you are one of those that hasn’t just go ahead and start watching NOW!

If you have not watched this series, you owe it to yourself–and all the men and women who gave their lives, their hearts, and their time to fighting for the world–to watch it. I understand my Dad and my Mom better after having watched it and having seen more about what they went through. (Papa was in the Pacific Theater, who is shown in the photo–he’s the fellow on the left–,and was really on the front line. His brothers were in the European Theater–one was shot down over Germany and captured and another was one of the troops that invaded on D-Day. Mama was in college at the time, but worked with the Red Cross and also went to Mobile one summer to work doing her part. And everyone talked about rationing and worrying.)

On the Farm

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Ann and I are getting ready to go south for a day or two and I’ve been going through old photos of my family. This is really one of my favorites. (I’m the one driving the tractor.)

This year will be a really hard Christmas, but it is great that all 5 of my sisters will be at the house for Christmas, along with Ann, of course.

Well, enough about family–it is 7 a.m. here and time to get to work.