Did you know overripe, or rotten bananas are key ingredients for tasty banana bread? Well, I didn’t until a friend asked me to save, freeze and bring them to her. (Ever since, I’ve frozen “rotten” bananas, as I only like them green, or just ripe enough to unpeel.)
The point of this column is not everything that seems unsavory results in spoil. Even when things start off dreadful, there is usually light just ahead.
But first I’ll disclose, “Shanna Banana” became a nickname for yours truly in elementary school and far beyond. (It was not at all to my liking.) Only one person still calls me that, so I was surprised several years ago to hear the old term of endearment at Market Street in Midland.
As it turned out, a florist there shares the same name, rare spelling and irresistible nickname. Since then, she and I laugh and affectionately greet each other each time we cross paths by fragrant petals, bonded as two Shannas in a world full of non-Shannas.
Even in college, close friends would often say “Shanna Banana lives in her own little world.” To which I would reply, “my world is a pleasant place.”
Fast-forward a few decades, to this past New Year’s Eve. Not to say the normal stressors, grief and agony of life that visit us all have left me untouched over the years. (I’ve battled cancer, lost loved ones, felt deep emotional pain, suffered betrayal and survived many other grievous unpleasantries that supposedly make us stronger.)
But for loved ones and my own household, the new year didn’t start out as we all hope, at least in Shanna’s world.
A glimpse into what has affected those I love most involves the terrorist attack in New Orleans, a separate unexpected loss of a long-time Midland friend, my soon-to-be college graduate nephew’s diagnosis with lifetime health condition, (and I won’t even get into the complexities of a brown recluse bite we feared at one point could claim at least a chunk of my husband’s arm.) And that’s just touching the surface of what’s been happening, my friends.
We all know melancholy, rage and other negative emotions can provoke illness, conflicts or other destructive outcomes.
But, now with February well underway, there is light and new beginnings as spring fever arrived early. (Never mind the clouds, wind and cold air in recent days.) Those are temporary elements that pass. As such, by the gracious mercy of God, I’ve recently overcome grief and anger, while channeling energy in ways that fuel more vitality.
This transition has begun by biking, walking and eating healthier, (I now crave the scrumptious salad and house-made, low-fat ranch dressing from Michael’s Charcoal Grill,) so I’ve become a regular there.
It’s my hope this piece will encourage others to find springtime, regardless of your circumstance or life stage.
For now, it’s time for me to board my bike, as I suspect my friend will be baking soon with those rotten bananas I’ve been running over to her. Her banana bread is surely not low-fat. (Plus, I’ll just try not to think about the rotten bananas in her recipe!)
Until next time, smiles and blessings to you from Shanna, (not a rotten banana!)
Shanna (Sissom) Iverson is the former, long-time city editor of the Midland Reporter-Telegram and served as a managing editor for Hearst Newspapers before retiring early. She is married to Siegfried J. “Trey” Iverson III of Midland.