Amazing things

I'm an American of Irish ancestry, (grandparents from Cork & Kilkenny respectively) with a petty stupid question...

I make soda bread from my gram & mums family recipe. Posted it in a baking group I am in and was informed by a Welsh woman claiming to live in Dublin that 1) I was appropriating a culture I can no longer claim because my parents were born in America and 2) it isn't Irish soda bread because I didn't put raisins or currants in it. And I used white flour. I was told I should never call it Irish soda bread again.
It is important to my family to cherish our culture, as it has been handed down by Gram, Papa and Mum. It is my heritage, no matter what soil I stand on.
Can someone tell me why my family recipe isn't authentic? Why would it be unacceptable to call it the same thing my family has called it for generations, considering where it came from?
UPDATE: Bless you all for all of the kind words and encouragement. I appreciate each of you.
Update #2: to all of those who were kind enough to ask, yes, please feel free to use the recipe. Food and recipes are meant to be shared.

Original post - Lauri Midge

Photographed by Martin Schoeller for The New Yorker in 2002 "I was hired by the New Yorker in 2002 to photograph Robin Williams, and after doing my research what stood out most for me was that he was a very physical comedian. I came up with this idea to photograph him swinging from a chandelier in a grand hotel room. Most publicists shoot down these kinds of wild ideas, so I didn't tell anyone what I was up to, but rigged up a chandelier at the Waldorf Astoria hotel for him to swing from. When Robin got there and saw what was happening, he lifted up his shirt and showed me this enormous scar on his shoulder. He'd just had surgery and couldn't so much as lift his arm. He was so disappointed! He really felt bad about not being able to do it, because he loved the idea and really wanted to help me accomplish my vision. Unlike most Hollywood stars, he was unfazed by his success and position. He talked to everyone from stylists to the crew, to the hotel staff. We ended up asking a maid at the hotel to swing from the chandelier instead, and I asked him to just sit there and read a newspaper, which I think in the end was an even funnier, more unexpected picture."

Credit goes to the original owner

"This is my son, Nathan. He was apprehended from a crack house at 5 months old and came to me that evening as my foster son. Almost 3 years later, it finally became official! He was definitely worth the wait!" MAY 12TH, 11:23AM -Melissa
Via Humans of Foster Care.

Credit goes to the original owner

As I was pulling into work, I was following this car. The sign in the back window says, “Learning stick sorry for any delay.”
Knowing this information, I was very patient with their slow shifting, and honestly they were doing pretty well for still learning. Then I asked myself a tough question: Would I have been just as patient if the sign hadn’t been there? I can almost definitely say no.
We don’t know what someone is going through. We don’t wear signs that illustrate our personal struggles. You don’t see signs taped to people’s shirts that say, “Going through a divorce”, or “Lost a child”, or “Feeling depressed”, or “Diagnosed with cancer”.
If we could read visually what those around us are going through we would definitely be nicer. But we shouldn’t have to see signs and have reasons to treat strangers with kindness. We should do it anyway, whether we know what is going on or not. Whether they deserve it or not.
Let’s give everyone an extra dose of patience, kindness, and love. And have a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Credit - Carri solomon

“We were in Athens yesterday and Avery had to go to the bathroom really, really bad. She & I ran into the closest place which was a Subway in downtown Athens. We ran straight to the bathroom and the employee got my attention and told me the bathroom was only for paying customers. I didn’t have my wallet with me and I told him I was sorry, I didn’t have my wallet and we would leave. Without hesitation these 2 young men spoke up and said they would buy a cookie for Avery so she could be a “paying customer” so she could use the restroom.”
“I was so grateful, thanked them profusely and dashed in the restroom with Avery. We came back out and they were still there, so I thanked them again and started talking with them. Turns out they both play on the UGA football team. (Go Dawgs) We had a great conversation and exchanged some laughs, and talked about football. To some it may seem like a small act, but I was so thankful and impressed that these 2 college kids who don’t have kids of their own gave so freely and without hesitation to help us out. The world needs MORE of this! Thank you Latavious & Jaylen!!
Fine young men who asked for nothing in return and a great example. A much needed ray of sunshine. Reminds me of Andy Stanley’s sermon “What does love require of you”? Food for thought.
Go Dawgs!!”
"What the world needs now is love sweet love"
Credit: Christie Williams Myers

I promised to marry her when she was cured of cancer, they gave us the bad news that she had only a few months to live, we planned everything in just 20 days, we got married ... It was the most beautiful day of my life to see her smile despite everything ... A week later my wife passed away and this is the photo that always lifts my spirits.❤❤😭

Credit: Christina Lee Photography

Having so much fun teaching my granddaughter to sew ❤❤ this is her first rag quilt, made for her doll. And she made three pot holders from scrap material!!
Credit to Renee Call

"Early this morning on the way to Cape Town I stopped at a petrol station to fill up my car. Before I ask the person to fill up my car, I just get a feeling I forgot my card at home. While I was looking for my card a young man dutifully started washing my windows. After the search, I told him I could not find my card and unfortunately will not be able to put in petrol. He saw my petrol light [which was already in the red] and looked so worried and stressed. He said to me: "Ma'am you can't run out of petrol on the N2. I'll throw in R100 and then you can just bring back my R100 whenever you are near again. " Without me being able to answer, he started pouring petrol and paid with his own card. He didn’t ask for my name or my number - just told me to drive safe. When I went to return the money to him, I asked him why he helped me and how he trusted that I would return the money. He answered me "Ma'am I am a believer." Thank you Nkosikho for your beautiful heart." ❤
Credit: Understanding Compassion

What's the meanest thing you've heard a salesman say about you when they didn't think you could hear them?
A2A

I grew up pretty poor, and I was still poor up until I hit about 23.

I went to buy a car once. I was ready to buy it that day. I went to the dealership, parked my j***y 20 year old Toyota (paid $600 for it) in the parking lot, and walked in to find a salesman. I had just left my office and was wearing a nice dress with a new bag.

They were all huddled in the back of the showroom eating cookies together, but I could hear them laughing. They hadn’t watched long enough to see that the car was mine.

Did you see that junker back there?

Oh my God. Who would own such a car.

I walked closer, listening to them insulting me, and interjected.

Actually that junker is mine. I was looking at getting a new car today.

I could see their postures change and their laughter turn to embarrassment.

But actually I think I’ll be visiting another dealership. Thank you for your time.

And out I went. I did buy a new car that day, but certainly not from them.

Credit goes to the original owner

“My wedding story. I married the love of my life at the tender age of 20 years 6 days. He was 33. They all gasped. They all said it would never last. My parents didn’t come. I planned the wedding but I knew nothing. I was 20, a baby.

The night before my wedding, a neigbour hemmed my gown. But it wasn’t a blind hem. I cried for my mother, who could do a blind hem but wasn’t there, and misplaced my anger on this neighbour for ruining my dress.

But I was so in love, and the sun came out. And it did work, it did last. 6 children, 3 grandchildren, and 34 years of love.

He died of pancreatic cancer in our home when he was 65. His children and I all around him. Not many get to experience such a rare love story. This is us. Look at his handsomeness!”

Credits: Susan Marie Charlton

What's something you did as a child that you still feel bad about as an adult?
When I was younger, my dad would leave out one cup of apple juice and one cup of grape juice on the counter for my twin brother and me before he went to work in the morning. I can’t remember how old we were exactly but we were pretty young.
So one day, sitting somewhat near the cups was a bottle of pet cleaner. I had woken up first so I got my apple juice and then had the hilarious idea of spraying a ton of the pet cleaner in my brother’s grape juice so it would taste funny. He would do a spit-take, we’d laugh about it, things would go back to normal.
I couldn’t keep a secret to save my life and I snickered the second he walked down the stairs, as he grabbed the cup, as he joined me in the family room… I thought it was hysterical. He was just about to drink from the cup when I got a really weird feeling and told him to stop. Something felt wrong about this so I told him the truth and he was mad. We weren’t able to pour our own juice yet so he didn’t get juice that morning and of course he tattled on me the second he had the chance.
What I thought was just a harmless prank ended me in therapy. Not even joking. My mom threw me in therapy and told the therapist I was trying to kill my brother. I remember feeling empty inside for weeks when everyone told me I could have really hurt him or even killed him. That was the first time I was ever grounded. The therapist gave me clay - “angry clay” she called it - to use when I felt angry inside (or homicidal in my mom’s eyes). I spent many days in my room hiding in my closet and “playing” with this clay.
I want to cry every time I think back to this incident because it could have been the day I lost my twin brother, my best friend. It could have ended so differently and I’m beyond thankful for whatever it was in me that made me tell him the truth.
Edit 2/9/24: I feel like this answer has been shared a lot in the past few months or so as I wrote this 7 years ago and am getting tons of comments recently. Which is fine! I have no problem with that, I just wanted to clear up a few things since I see the same thing over and over - and understandably so!
my mom definitely over reacted. She was sick mentally and physically and my childhood was a bit abnormal because of it. She wasn’t the perfect mom but she tried her best to fight her demons and did not win that fight. But this instance was definitely not normal or okay.
my dad is amazing. He worked both full time at the hospital and did much of the cooking and cleaning as well. Due to my mom’s illnesses, he did his best but definitely must have felt like he had three children at times. He would never purposely put me or my brother in harm’s way.
I totally understand the negative comments and the concerned ones. I don’t want to seem like I am justifying things, just adding some context. I don’t fully remember this incident 100% as I was young so I don’t remember exactly what I put in his drink - I know it was a spray bottle - and I remember it was the only thing on the counter but not near our drinks. It was the 90s in a household with young twins, a working dad, and a sick mom. The cleaning product should have been locked up, but it was not for whatever reason. I don’t think anyone had malicious intent and as this never happened again, I do believe it was a learning lesson for all. I remember being taught about the Mr. Poison sticker with the green face and tongue sticking out and understood why what I did was wrong.
I guess the takeaway here is that my parents were/are good people. My dad really had no part in this, just perhaps an unfortunate oversight of a busy dad. My mom’s reaction is indicative of her own sickness and problems that showed themselves many times up until her sudden death when I turned 15. I don’t want to villainize her because I know that she was not treated properly for her trauma and mental illness. I don’t want to excuse all of her actions either. I just hope that anyone who reads this can understand that I oversimplified a very complex household in this story. My brother and I are adults now and he is successful and happy and my dad is doing well. I have worked through a lot of my issues with my mom after her death in therapy and have worked hard to try and understand her. I completely understand every reaction to this story and just hope this adds some context and maybe an update of sort? But thank you for all of the interactions with this post. I like reading all the comments and I’ve also learned a few things as well and enjoyed reading stories of other people’s pranks on their siblings - definitely more appropriate than mine lol but anyway I just wanted to provide some more context for anyone who wanted to read this after noticing the recent popularity of this answer over the past few months.
Credit goes to the original owner

“In the last Quarter of Life”
A lot of us are in the last quarter of life and I share without politics, religion, race cards. Just gentle thoughts:
You know, time has a way of catching you off-guard about how quickly it travels.
It feels like just yesterday that I was young and ready to start adult-life. And in a way it feels like eons ago, and I wonder where the years have gone.
I know I lived them all.
I remember all my hopes and dreams. I remember the plans I made.
And suddenly, here I am in the last quarter.
How did I get here so fast?
Where have the years gone and where did my youth go?
I can recall looking at older people, thinking how long it will take for me to get where they are. That I am still in my youth, that I have many years ahead. At that time I could not even think of being where I am now.
And yet, here I am.
My friends are retired, they all have grey hair, they move much slower than they did and when I look at them, I see older people. Some are in a better and some a worse condition than me. But I see the big difference. They are no longer the youthful, carefree, full-of-life friends.
Just like me, age shows. And we are now the older people we used to look at and thought it was still a long way off.
I find that these days, taking a shower takes its toll on my breath and energy levels. And an afternoon nap is not just a treat, it’s become a necessity. And if I don’t, I find myself sleeping in the same chair I started reading or watching television in.
Now I have entered this new season of my life, totally unprepapred for the discomfort, aches and pains, loss of energy and strength and ability to do what I could, yet sometimes didn’t. At least I know that, even though I am in the last quarter and I have no idea how long this quarter will be, when my time on earth is over, a new adventure awaits too.
Yes, I do have things I wish I I had never done. Yet so thankful for those I did. It is all in a lifetime.
And if you are not in the last quarter yet, I want to remind you that it comes faster than you could anticipate. Do the things you still want to do as soon as possible. Do not procrastinate. Life runs on fast legs.
Do today what you can.
There is no promise that we will all see the seasons of life. Live for today. For now.
Say the words to the ones you love. Often.
Hopefully some will appreciate the things you did for them. And if they don’t, it is also okay.
Life is truly a gift. Just be happy. It is afterall your choice.
And remember that health is a treasure, not wealth, gold and silver, property or your bank balance.
You may think that going out is the best, but believe me – coming home is better.
You may forget names and that is okay, because some have already forgotten that they knew you.
The things you cared about previously, you may lose interest in.
If you fall asleep in your favourite chair, stay there.
Growing older is wonderful. It is comfortable. It is loaded with memories that you never grow tired of. It is an absolute treasure.
Look after yourself.
Credit go for respective owner

Kenneth Clark Loggins is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer and songwriter. He is known for his more than half-century career in the industry, including several hits from film soundtracks. Additionally, he has been nominated for Oscar and Tony Awards. He is 76 years old and born in Everett, Washington, near Seattle.
Loggins moved around with his family as a child before they settled in southern California, near Los Angeles. He attended Pasadena City College. He formed a band in the late 60s called The Second Helping and later joined the Electric Prunes. He got a job writing songs for a reported $100 per week. He wrote several tracks for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
In the mid-60s, Loggins wrote Danny's Song in honor of his brother who was a new father. He sat on it a while before it was recorded circa 1970 by the band Gator Creek which he was a member of for a very short time. Around this time, he met Jim Messina who had been a member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco. The duo soon released an album together called Sittin' In. They rerecorded Danny's Song for the album. It received some airplay but didn't chart but it is still heard frequently today. A year later, Anne Murray took the song to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Loggins and Messina's self-titled second album did much better in 1972. It got to number 16 on the Billboard 200 record chart. It featured the hit single You're Mama Don't Don't Dance. It got to number four in the US. Thinking of You also got to the top 20 from the album. They released four more studio albums in the next four years that were all hits. They released a live album, On Stage, in 1974 that got to number five on the album chart. The pair have occasionally reunited since they split making songs in 1976.
Loggins wrote I Believe In Love in 1976. Superstar Barbara Streisand recorded it as a b-side to the Oscar-winning single Evergreen for the film A Star Is Born. He recorded his own version for his debut solo album Celebrate Me Home in 1977. In 1978, he wrote Whenever I Call You Friend with Melissa Manchester. He recorded the song with Fleetwood Mac superstar Stevie Nicks and they took it to number five on the singles chart. He had opened for Fleetwood Mac on their famous Rumours tour.
Near the same time, Loggins co-wrote What a Fool Believes with Michael McDonald during McDonald's time with the Doobie Brothers. Loggins recorded it first but the Doobie Brothers made it famous. The song went to number one on the Hot 100 and won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. This Is It was also written by the duo and Loggins recorded it. It won the Grammy Award in 1981 for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
As the 80s dawned, Loggins started a run as a hit songwriter for the film industry. I'm Alright was a hit from Caddyshack. Footloose was a number-one hit from a film of the same name. it was nominated for the Oscar for Best Original Song. The film was later made into a Broadway play and he was nominated for a Tony Award for the score in 1999. He wrote several songs from the soundtrack of Top Gun in 1986. Danger Zone got to number two from that soundtrack. The song was used again in a 2022 sequel to the film. Nobody's Fool was a top-10 hit from the Caddyshack II soundtrack. For the First Time charted from the One Fine Day soundtrack in the mid-90s.
In the mid-90s, Loggins started releasing children's albums and was nominated two times for Best Musical Album for Children for Return to Pooh Corner and More Songs from Pooh Corner in 1995 and 2001 respectively. His most recent Grammy nomination was for In a Dream for Best New Age Album in 2010.
Loggins has appeared on television many times almost as himself. He has appeared in episodes of Dharma & Greg, Archer (voice), Raising Hope, Family Guy (voice), and Grace and Frankie. He was a guest judge on American Idol at the height of its popularity in 2005. His voice was heard in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto V. He won an Emmy Award for Oustanding Original Song for TV short This Island Earth in 1993. His memoir, Still Alright was published in 2022.
Loggins is a deeply committed environmentalist. He supports several causes such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Toys for Tots, the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, and children's programs at the San Diego Zoo. In his local area, he supports the Unity Shoppe which helps provide food, clothing, and job training for those impacted by temporary conditions of poverty, natural disaster, or health crisis.
Loggins has three children with Eve Ein. They married in 1978 and divorced in 1990. He has two children with Julia Cooper. They married in 1992 after a long friendship turned romance. They divorced in 2004. He is in a long-term relationship with Lisa Hawkins (pictured). They live in Montecito, California, near Santa Barbara.

Credit goes to the original owner😏

My heart was warmed at Wal-Mart during lunch.
The man had his belongings scanned, and he received the final amount. Apologetically, he glances back at me and begins extracting handfuls of coins from his pockets. He miscounts and starts to get flustered. Gives me a muttered, "I'm so sorry." His hands and voice are shaking. This beautiful cashier takes his hands and dumps all the change on the counter and says, "This is not a problem, honey. We will do this together." He continues to apologize to both of us as we reassure him it's ok. They get his transaction handled and he shuffles away.
I looked at this wonderful woman and said, "Thank-you for being so patient with him."
She shakes her head and replies, "You shouldn't have to thank me, baby. What's wrong with our world is we've forgotten how to love one another."
I want to be more like her.
Credit: Spring Herbison Bowlin

This is Jacob. He's seven. And now the owner of this piano after I heard him trying to play Chopsticks on it at the thrift store today. I told him, with practice, he could be the next Elton John or Billy Joel. His face lt up as he said, "thank you but I don't have a piano or way to practice. " So I told him I would buy this one for him if he could talk his parents into finding room for it and picking it up. I checked the sound board and all the keys were there and working fine. So how could we go wrong for $14.99 less my 30% senior discount? I handed him the receipt as I hurriedly left the storebefore being arrested for making his day but ruining his parents'. . Hope he succeeds and betting $10.50 that he does. (Check out the sticker on the upper right).

Credit goes to the original owner

"Well, today didn't go as we hoped but it's in the hardest of times we learn the best lessons and feel the most gratitude.
Buffy was scheduled to have her teeth cleaned and removed today but Dr. Mac had a gut feeling she needed to look at some lab work before putting her under anesthesia. She was right; Buffy showed signs of advanced kidney failure so anesthesia was not an option and as a family we decided that the kindest and most loving thing to do would be to let her go before she lost her will to live and stopped eating and drinking.
I wouldn't have dreamed of leaving Robbie out of this decision or not allowing him to be part of the entire process so I immediately went and picked him up from school. On the way there he told me he wanted to be the one to hold her when she went to heaven. And of course, I gave him that honor. On the way home I told him how proud I was of him for understanding the importance of caring for old animals and helping to make sure they never ever suffer.
This is what he said...
(And for those of you who don't know, Robbie was adopted from the foster care system after years of severe abuse and neglect.)
"I know how it feels not to be loved or cared for and I don't want any animal of mine to ever feel that way. It's only sad for us when they go to heaven. It's a happy day for them. Thank you for being proud of me. Are you ok, Mom?"
From the mouths of babes.
(As our story is being shared more and more I feel like I need to add a little more context and also give you a deeper glimpse into the heart of my son. We adopt senior dogs. Robbie LOVES adopting senior dogs. He is sadly aware the longer a child remains in foster care the less likely they are to be adopted. He told me once "if all you guys had wanted was a baby, you would have never gotten me." He relates to our "old people" (that's what we call our senior dogs) in much the same way.
He has also reminded me on several occasions that it doesn't matter how long you have something for how much you love it. I asked him what he meant and he said "well you've only known me for two years but you love me like it's been forever." Yes, my son is the coolest.).
Credit goes to the original owner

When the elegant actress was asked:

-Why don't you have a plastic surgery?

-She answered:
I will never allow them to remove the wrinkles in my forehead, because they are the result of my amazement at the beauty of life, or those on my mouth, because it shows how much I laughed and how much I kissed, not even the black spots under my eyes, because behind it I hide the memories of my sadness and cry.

They are part of me and I love their beauty...

I will preserve my facial features because they're an indicator of my life experiences."❤
Credit goes to the original owner

"This is Lori from McDonald's in Wills Point, Tx. She took my order for gift cards when I pulled into the drive thru after finding no available parking.
Lori: "Welcome to McDonald's, may I take your order?"
Me: "Yes, I'm sorry, but may I order gift cards here"?
Lori: "Yes! Would you like $5., $10, or $25"?
Me: ""I'd like one $25. and one $10. please".
Lori: "Yes ma'am. That's one $25 and one $10. Would you like a song with that"?
Me: "A song, really"? (Because it seemed a very cruel thing to be offering me a song if she didn't really mean it 😁)
Lori: "Yes. Would you like one"?
Me: "Yes! I'd love a song!".
Lori: "Really?! Nobody ever says yes"!
Me: "I'm saying yes. Please sing for me girl in the speaker. The gift cards are an anniversary gift if that helps".
Lori: "Oh my goodness, the pressure - the pressure - it has to be good. What do I sing? What do I sing"? She then starts singing Justin Beiber's Baby, Baby. I have never smiled so much! This girl made my day. So funny, so sweet. Infectious smile. The world needs more Lori's!!"

Credit: Karen Solley Forester

My mom did not sleep. She felt exhausted. She was irritable, grumpy, and bitter. She was always sick until one day, suddenly, she changed.
One day my dad said to her:
- I've been looking for a job for three months and I haven't found anything, I'm going to have a few beers with friends.
My mom replied:
- It's okay.
My brother said to her:
- Mom, I'm doing poorly in all subjects at the University.
My mom replied:
- Okay, you will recover, and if you don't, well, you repeat the semester, but you pay the tuition.
My sister said to her:
- Mom, I smashed the car.
My mom replied:
- Okay daughter, take it to the car shop & find out how to pay and while they fix it, get around by bus or subway.
Her daughter-in-law said to her:
- Mother-in-law, I came to spend a few months with you.
My mom replied:
- Okay, settle in the living room couch and look for some blankets in the closet.
All of us gathered worried to see these reactions coming from Mom.
We suspected that she had gone to the doctor and that she was prescribed some pills called "I don't give a damn”... Perhaps she was overdosing on these!
We then proposed to do an "intervention" with w/my mother to remove her from any possible addiction she had to some anti-tantrum medication.
But then ... she gathered us around her and my mom explained:
"It took me a long time to realize that each person is responsible for their life. It took me years to discover that my anguish, anxiety, depression, courage, insomnia & my stress, do not solve your problems but aggravate mine.
I am not responsible for the actions of anyone & it’s not my job to provide happiness but I am responsible for the reactions I express to that.
Therefore, I came to the conclusion that my duty to myself is to remain calm and let each one of you solve what corresponds to you.
I have taken courses in yoga, meditation, miracles, human development, mental hygiene, vibration, and neurolinguistic programming, and in all of them, I found a common denominator in them all...
I can only control myself, you have all the necessary resources to solve your own problems despite how hard they may be. My job is to pray for you, love on you, and encourage you but it’s up to YOU to solve them & find your happiness.
I can only give you my advice if you ask me & it depends on you to follow it or not. There are consequences, good or bad, to your decisions and YOU have to live them.
So from now on, I cease to be the receptacle of your responsibilities, the sack of your guilt, the laundress of your remorse, the advocate of your faults, the wall of your lamentations, the depositary of your duties, who should solve your problems or spare a tire every time to fulfill your responsibilities.
From now on, I declare all independent and self-sufficient adults.
Everyone at my mom's house was speechless.
From that day on, the family began to function better because everyone in the house knew exactly what it was that they needed to do.
For some of us, this is hard because we've grown up being caregivers and feeling responsible for others. As moms & wives, we are fixers of all things. We never want our loved ones to go through difficult things or to struggle. We want everyone to be happy.
But, the sooner we take that responsibility off of our shoulders & onto each loved one, the better we are preparing them to be responsible.
We are not here on earth to be everything to everyone. Stop putting that pressure on yourself.
Much Love,

Charlyn.
Credit goes to the original owner