Since my dear long-time friend Pat Royalty commented on my on-going cough, I must tell a story on both of us that will make you giggle. Pat was one of the first students at Rich's cooking school, and signed up for several series of classes. I had, as I do now, a lingering cough. It seems to be a cross of allergies and a cold. Anyway, finally I got better. Pat, a very spiritual person, came up to me and said,"Nathalie, are you well now? I've had you on my prayer list for church for several months now and I'm wondering if it is time to take you off." I was enormously touched.

I knew she didn't have a copy of the Joy of Cooking, so I decided to get her one. I ran up to the cookbook department, which was next to a ladies room, and said to a sweet old lady there, Mrs. Goldsmith, "Mrs. Goldsmith, here is my credit card. Would you please charge me a copy of joy and seal it (necessary for employees) and I'll pick it up when I leave the ladies room as I HAVE to get back to class!" Mrs. Goldsmith, ever accommodating, had the sealed package ready for me as I ran back to the class. Just as I walked into the door of the school, I thought...this is awfully light for the Joy of Cooking. But I handed it to her. As Pat, who had I don't remember how many children at the time, but a goodly number, opened it, rather than an exclamation of Joy! There was a silence. I looked...it was the Joy of Sex, something she surely did not need. She tooke me off the prayer list for sure, I gave the book to someone who needed it, and purchased Pat "The Joy of Cooking."