Earlier this fall, we were preparing for a weekend out of town. I stayed up late the night before, making four pans of lasagna – one to take with us, and three for the freezer. As we were driving away the next morning, I was feeling pretty good about all those lasagnas.

“I am a woman with three lasagnas in the freezer,” I happily thought to myself several times.

Not the biggest accomplishment, but – yee-haw! – it felt pretty good. Lasagna making is work.

My friend was watching the house and our dog for us while we were away. When we returned, we unloaded the car and began the whole unpack-start laundry-figure out what’s for dinner process. When I opened the fridge for the dinner part, I saw what looked like one of my lasagnas. What was it doing there? I was sure I had left them all in the freezer.

Lifting up the tinfoil, I peeked … .

Enchiladas?

Understanding – and guilt – hit me like a frozen entre. Apparently my friend had her own casserole-making marathon (enchiladas instead of lasagna); only instead of hoarding hers in the freezer, she’d brought one to my house for our dinner.

I felt very grateful to my friend. “I am a woman with three lasagnas in the freezer,” rang through my head, but it was sounding a little tinny.

Then I swallowed my twinge of guilt and we enjoyed the enchiladas.

When I was a teen, I often heard the words, “Lose yourself in the service of others.” Usually people talk about finding themselves, not losing. I think the saying has more to do with losing your self-centeredness, stop focusing on worries, and reach out a helping hand where it’s needed.

I’m starting to hate the term “during uncertain times,” referring to our country’s economic worries. It sounds like we are all walking around on a wobbly foot bridge, hoping we won’t be the next to fall.

I recently read an article that suggested that instead of focusing on fear for the future, we might focus on how much good we can do in our own sphere of influence. What service are we giving, in our neighborhoods, our schools, our community?

I asked Libby what she thought about service. She shrugged, and, brightening, said, “Hey, you have to go shopping and buy lots of food so we can give it to the food bank! I looked in the school food drive box, and I don’t think anybody’s donated yet.”

I love how generous she is with our groceries! A little sarcasm there, but I really am glad that she’s thinking about sharing. Donating food isn’t hard. There are usually donation bins at the grocery store, at the library, and often at the schools. There is usually plenty of room for more. Also, the food bank, ShareNet, is located just south of Kingston, in the business park across State Route 104 from Calvary Lane.

What else is service? Mowing the neighbors’ lawn when they are sick, or their lawnmower has broken. Taking a meal, especially during times of crisis. Offering to run to the store for a mom stuck at home with sick kids. Stopping to help with a flat tire. We know these things, right? We’re friends and neighbors, and we try to watch out for each other. We help each other across a wobbly foot bridge.

And if you’re mumbling at this point, “Nobody does that for me,” don’t worry about it. Why let all those other folks have all the fun doing service? Jump on in, lend a hand, share something you can do. And, thank you in advance!

Denise Roundy warns those who wish to do her a good turn: It may end up in the paper.