Oranges and Babies

Juicing citrus always reminds me of the December blizzard when my daughter was two years old. We were stranded at home and as luck had it my daughter turned very sick very fast with a dangerously high fever. We didn't have a pantry full of supplies, but in the bottom drawer of the fridge was a bag of oranges that I had no recollection of buying. The fresh juice they became was the only thing my daughter wanted to drink that weekend. Sometimes even when we think we have nothing, we find that we have just enough.

Yesterday I spent about an hour juicing enough oranges, limes, grapefruit, and lemons to make a pitcher of Large Marge Margarita Mix. Friends were coming to dinner, and I wanted enough Large Marge for a party. Juicing by hand, one fruit at a time, reminds me to appreciate good health and happy babies. My nephew's son Myles was born last Wednesday, alert, beautiful, and seemingly quite healthy. But on Friday he was rushed to Children's Hospital in the Cities. After a few long days of worry, we are all relieved and joyful that he is headed home today.