I Never Forget The Random Things.....

I don't know about you, but I swear some days, I walk in a room to get something and as soon as I get there, I forget what in the world I was after. That is so aggravating at times, and honestly, I really think I am to young for that type of nonsense.

But as crazy as those incidents are, on the flip side, I remember things from my childhood like it was yesterday. I don't really remember important things of any value. No, I really just remember the most random things and funny how those types of things don't seem to ever leave you.

When I was in middle school, maybe in the 6th or 7th grade, one Sunday after church, I went home with a girl in my Sunday school class. I had lunch with her family, and being a polite kid, offered to help clean up after the meal. I remember when the mother was almost finished with the kitchen, she soaked some of her pans in the sink with bleach. Since I had never seen my mom do that sort of thing, I asked what she was doing. She had a pan that looked very much like the pan I am going to show you....please don't judge me....only one of my pans looked like this.....true.


This is my small Revere Ware pan that I boil tea in when I make Iced tea.....I make a lot of iced tea, as I love it and so do my kids. Sweet tea....the only kind to have around here! Anyway, after boiling tea in this pan, it looked a lot like the pan used by my friends' mom all those years ago.....tea stained that is. Now, in case you are wondering, yes, I do wash the pan, it just stays stained. Why is it I can see her kitchen like it was yesterday, and remember how to clean these stained pans right up good as new? Bleach....the secret of soaking the stains all out.....

After about 5 minutes, this is my same pan......good as new. One thing to remember, never add bleach with dish soap...it is toxic... just add bleach, water and let soak, pour out and then wash. Another random thing she casually mentioned that day......to a middle school aged kid at that.

Now, remember you agreed not to judge.....I have almost completely stopped using plastic for anything to cook with, but this is the plastic pitcher I use for tea......stained like the pan......really gross if you think about it.....even if the only thing that fills this pitcher is tea.....really, I swear I do wash this thing....I really do.

Not anymore.....amazing right? Most random right? Why is it the most random things attach themselves to our memory banks and we never forget them? I can guarantee on that day long ago, I would have never imagined that nearly 35 years later, I would remember this incident like it was yesterday. I may not remember my friend mom's name, but I remember a tip she casually shared with me that day long ago.

Funny....I can't remember where I laid my car keys when I came home... but I remember how to clean stains our of a pan......or rather, not so funny!