Life is full of surprises

So, have you ever received a package unexpectedly? How about unexpectedly from another country?? How exciting would that be? VERY exciting, right? Well, I have an Internet friend in Oz (being that my name is Dorothy, that might not strike you as so very odd, but it’s the other Oz, as in Australia), she can be found here, and she sent me the sweetest care package after my mom died. How fun to to be expecting only bills in the mail, but instead to see an Airmail package, open it up and find this:

…and you can bet my kids will be wearing these during the Summer Olympics (especially if the US boycotts… not that I’m saying how I feel on that one way or another):

…and I imagine SIS lives right on a beach, and her life looks like this:

Anyway, on the enclosed card she instructed me on the finer points of eating Vegemite. (Shudder) Vegemite comes in a jar, like this:

and it's a smooth, brown, chocolaty looking spread, which smells just the opposite of "chocolaty goodness", like this:

You take a piece of toast, butter it, and then spread on a little bit of Vegemite. Like this:

Now, a seasoned veteran of Vegemite might add a little bit more… but I was frightened, and had been working up the courage for 2 weeks to accomplish this.

Then you take a bite, like this:

…and you know what? It is really not so bad. It’s a bit like eating beef bouillon paste on toast. Nothing offensive about it, and really not as scary as I was thinking. I don’t quite know what I thought Vegemite might taste like – but it was a pleasant surprise. Of course, it’s a by-product of the beer making process… anything in the beer family is usually A-OK with me.

Thank you so much, SIS!! Your package came at a wonderful time, I loved that you cared enough to send it, I’m so glad we Parkview Moms have discovered you all the way on the other side of the world, and I cannot wait to gather a few American goodies and send them your way! Anything you’re dying to try? How ‘bout some grits?

Oh, and by the way, girls? Next time we get together for coffee? I'm bringing the Vegemite!