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We have lived in this town for thirty-five years. When we first moved here we happened to meet a really nice older couple, John and Boyce Reed. Over the years our lives were woven together in a multitude of ways. Their daughter, Pauline, became my friend and Sunday School teacher and taught me how to make the best coconut pie EVER; son-in-law, Jim, taught my husband in a class at the same church. Their granddaughter, Claudette, was our regular babysitter. It took all of our “village” to raise their grandson, Justin! (He finally decided what he wanted to grow up to be and became a dentist who practices locally.)The Reeds backyard became the location for a portrait of our daughter and me that was done by Liz Powers; it still hangs in our current home. As a toddler, our daughter would ask to go play with “my friend John.” He hung a swing in his backyard that was great entertainment for her; he even let her hold a baby wren once that was newly hatched in a nest on his patio.

I doubt that she remembers that, but I do.

I’ve taught his great grandchildren. We helped them celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary  Their great grandson plays ball and is in the same school class as my grandson….and the connection continues.

I always admired and appreciated the way that both of them were genuinely interested in others. Even though Mr and Mrs. Reed have passed on, our lives still connect in so many ways with theirs. One of the those ways is through this roll recipe which we call Mystery Rolls (our daughter’s interpretation for “Mr. Reed” rolls).

Right after we met the Reeds, they invited us over one Saturday night for hot rolls and strawberry jam. It was Mr. Reed’s habit to make rolls every Saturday evening. These were his contribution to the family Sunday dinner the next day. Oh my goodness, how good they were. Pauline serves these each year when she hosts a luncheon and invites the entire town – or so it seems. Nobody turns down that invitation! (I’ll share her coconut pie recipe one of these days.) . (Miss Pauline’s Coconut Pie)

I never make these that I don’t remember all of those connections. We cherish those memories. And now, I’m teaching our granddaughter to make them. I think Mr. Reed would be delighted, don’t you? 

I promise that you won’t be disappointed in these rolls.  They are absolutely terrific.

If you would like to read a small bit about Mr. Reed’s life, you can link here at Rootsweb. The narrative falls far short of the man he was. 

Update Note: Mr. Reed’s daughter and my friend, Pauline, now lives in NYC most of the time where she volunteers with The Bowery Mission. Check out just a little bit about her mission there: https://youtu.be/ImlKJj1DrVU.

Linked to:  Full Plate Thursday