A dedication to Robin, Anne and Campbells' soup

Dedication #1 Robin and Anne:
When I started losing weight, October 2005, I decided to join a dancing group that the g-daughters danced with. Daughter was gonna go, g-daughters 12 & 11 & me, a nice "girl thing" on Monday nights. Well, now I'm the only one going and I dance on Mon. & practice on Tuesday nights. We "Clog". Great exercise. No rhythm needed, just make sure you know your left from your right foot. Failure #1. Wanting to be the "best" at everything early in the game I asked for help on the side. Introduce Robin and a short time later Anne.
See I always thought I "could" dance. After all, I grew up doing the Twist, Mashed Potato, the Hustle and managed to learn the Electric Slide and the Macarena. We started practicing 1 night a week for an hour. I became known on those nights as "wrong foot grammice". Something Robin said so many times in those early days that I started signing legal documents that way. I would cuss and stomp and start over again. I swore I hated every song we learned on Mon. "I was never gonna get it"! Robin and Anne stuck it out and continue to show up once a week to hold my hand and tell me I'm doing a good job. I hardly hear "Wrong foot" any more and for all that I'm very grateful. During those early aggravating "I'm a dumb ass" days we became friends, despite our age difference. (they are very early 20's) Robin and Anne now come stay at the house and watch our pets while we are camping. My dogs adore them and act like they have not been petted or fed when Robin and Anne pull up to the house. Husband and I love having people we can trust stay at our home and we really appreciate that our "four legged friends" aren't alone for 3-4+ days just having someone show up twice a day to "run in and out". There is one catch, something I myself created. I offered on the very 1st stay to pre-make some food so they could just come and relax when they were here. I decided to make them Broccoli casserole, Chicken tetrazinni and Dirt cake. For this weekend I added Loaded Smashed Potato Casserole. The girls love my food. I always ask if they want something different. The answer is always the same "No, we like it, you don't want to make it for us any more? We love broccoli casserole etc." One time we came home a few hours early and they hadn't come back to the house yet. I threw out left over Dirt cake. Dead man walking. They showed up after work and had a meltdown! Never will I ever throw any leftover food away for at least 24hrs. after I get home. Not worth the tears and pouts.
I have been making broccoli casserole for almost 15 yrs. No changes. At Thanksgiving I have to make an extra un-cooked pan for my daughter. Its' the 1st thing after "are you frying a turkey again?" my son will ask for before he is positive he's coming.
Whenever we are invited for a covered dish party, I have to make broccoli casserole. When we go to daughters' house at Christmas I have to make 2 broccoli casseroles. 1 for dinner & 1 for her to make later. She has no shame.
Which all brings me to dedication #2.
Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
I love Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup. When I'm sick, that and a grilled cheese will make me better. When daughter was a teen she would take a can and spoon to her room. (That was nasty) But, it was usually followed by a slammed door and four letter words under her breath about my life expectancy being too long, if you get my drift. So basically Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup got her through her teenage years. Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup is in my broccoli casserole, chicken tetrazinni, sausage gravy, baked spaghetti casserole, home made pot pies, beef stew, stuffing and over chicken, beef or pork roasts for the best gravy. I have a zillion recipes and Campbell's' has a recipe book with recipes.
I buy it by the case during the holidays and use every bit of it. G-daughter #1 will eat it every day if I let her when shes' here. I hope the person that invented Cream of Mushroom soup got a good pay raise. Because that little red and white can of soup has saved my ass many a time when money was low, ingredients were short...
So here's to three un-intentional staples in my life, Robin, Anne and Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup.

Robin, Elaine, Me and Anne - We are so totally cool!

Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup Hmmmmm Good!