A woman named Kate posted a story of how her son chose silence instead of defending her when his wife insulted her.
Namely, Kate loved to cook, but since her husband’s passing things changed and she somehow lost hold of that part of her. However, whenever a holiday was around the corner she would prepare the most delicious dishes to her son John, especially for Christmas when he would always come for his annual roast dinner.
This year, however, was a bit different since John’s wife, Liz, attended the family dinner for the first time. The two dated for quite some time, but over the course of a couple of years, she would always spend Christmas at her parents’ house.
Kate woke up early because she knew she needed time to prepare the main course, which was a chicken with gravy on the side, all the side dishes and desserts that her son loved.
As she was preparing the food, Liz entered the kitchen with her phone in her hand and started looking around. At that moment, she made a face as though she smelled something terrible, but Kate, already sweating away, decided to ignore her and didn’t say a word.
Sadly, things turned for the worse when Liz suddenly exclaimed, “Hey, Kate, maybe we should order food. Not everyone wants what you’ve cooked. I don’t know if everyone enjoys your cooking, either. Every aspect of Christmas is supposed to be enjoyed by everyone. They should enjoy the food, too!”
As expected, Kate was shocked by her daughter-in-law’s harsh words.
“I saw John leaning against the archway, nibbling on a carrot. He altogether avoided my gaze, looking over me and out the window across the room. I held back my tears and bit my lip,” she wrote in her post.
As most of the guests arrived and sat on the table, it seemed like they all enjoyed the food Kate prepared for the night.
At one moment, John asked, “The food’s great, right? Everyone’s enjoying it?”
John’s uncle helped himself to another serving of roasted potatoes and asked, “Why wouldn’t we enjoy my sister’s food?”
“Because Liz said that the dinner might be ruined by Mom’s dishes. She wanted us to order in,” John explained.
“Nonsense!” Kate’s brother said as he dipped his potatoes into the gravy.
Hearing this, John looked at his mom and smiled. Kate then realized that her son didn’t react before because he was waiting for the right moment to teach his wife a lesson.
Liz turned red as everyone starred at her and Kate admitted that she even felt bad for her because it was her first Christmas with the family.
Later on, while packing the dishwasher and emptying dishes of food, Liz approached Kate.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” she said. “I was so wrong to do what I did. I am sorry, please understand.”
“Understand what?” Kate asked her.
“I only said that because John loves your food. He always talks about how you make all these special things for him. I can’t make a basic mac and cheese without him saying yours is better. I looked at the food, smelt all the delicious smells from this kitchen, and panicked.”
“Liz, you should know that a boy and his mother’s food is a relationship in and of itself,” Kate said with a laughter as she tried to diffuse the tension. “I can teach you how to cook just like me. My mother taught me everything I know.”
“Really?” Liz asked. “Even after I’ve been so horrible?”
“Yes,” Kate replied.
Thankfully, Kate understood that Liz’s intention wasn’t a nasty one, she simply felt threatened by her mother-in-law, but she soon learned it was for no reason.
Kate then took Liz to the Christmas tree and handed her the present she bough for her.
The Forgotten Tools of Typing: Typewriter Eraser Brushes
What Are Typewriter Eraser Brushes?
The circular objects in the image are typewriter erasers, which came with a small brush attached to them. The erasers themselves were made from soft materials like rubber, often infused with fine abrasives.
This combination was designed to remove ink or typewriter ribbon marks from paper, which was the
primary method of correcting mistakes on a typed document before the advent of white-out or digital editing.
The small brush on the tool was used to gently whisk away the eraser debris left on the paper after erasing a letter or a word. In an age when typewriters ruled the business and literary worlds, these tools were essential to maintaining neat and professional-looking work.
A Snapshot in Time: When Eraser Brushes Were Essential
In the early to mid-20th century, typewriter eraser brushes were as common as correction fluid or digital backspace keys are today. Every typist had one on their desk because, despite their best efforts, mistakes in typing were inevitable. These tools allowed for correcting those mistakes without the need to retype an entire
page.
Back then, carbon paper was often used for making copies, so one mistake could mean fixing multiple sheets of paper. Eraser brushes were gentle enough not to tear the delicate paper yet effective at removing the erroneous marks.
The Decline of the Typewriter Era
With the rise of word processors and eventually personal computers, typewriters
quickly became obsolete. The need for such specialized erasers faded as digital
text allowed for instantaneous editing. Today, these erasers are rare relics from a
time when typing was both an art and a skill.
For those who remember using these eraser brushes, seeing one today is a nostalgic reminder of how much the world of writing and editing has evolved. The phrase “times have changed” has never been truer, especially when comparing the
challenges of fixing a typewritten document to the ease of modern technology’s undo button.
A Niche Collectible
Today, typewriter eraser brushes are considered collectibles. Vintage enthusiasts and lovers of retro office supplies value them for their simplicity and effectiveness. Though they might look out of place in a world dominated by digital devices, they serve as a testament to the ingenuity of past generations and the unique tools
that once supported everyday tasks.
Conclusion: From Essential to Obsolete
For those who’ve never used a typewriter, the tools in the image may seem mysterious, even obsolete. But for older generations, they bring back memories of the rhythmic clacking of typewriter keys, the smell of ink ribbons, and the ever- present eraser brush sitting nearby. Times have certainly changed, and as with many innovations, what was once essential now rests quietly in history’s archives
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