Yesterday our post office box contained the usual assortment of junk mail and bills plus a five-year-old periodical that had apparently finally found its way to Oysterville!  It was the October 2007 issue of “Everyday Food” – a Martha Stewart publication addressed to Nyel.

The notation on the label indicated that his subscription was to run out in June 2008.  That sounded about right.  My son had given him the recipe magazine as a birthday gift five or six years ago.  I think he renewed the subscription once but, at a rate of ten magazines a year, they piled up relentlessly and he finally gave them up – probably with that very June 2008 issue.

I don’t remember if we ever used any of Martha’s recipes or not.  As with many people who like to cook, Nyel often reads recipes simply for enjoyment’s sake.  He probably absorbs ideas for food combinations or culinary shortcuts along the way, but mostly he reads about cooking and recipes like I read local history or like our friend Carol reads mysteries – for pure pleasure.

Why this issue showed up in our mailbox yesterday will probably remain one of life’s little mysteries.  It looks pristine and not as if it’s been hanging around in the postman’s bag or delivery van for five years.  There is no promotional information with it – no urging us to come back into the family of Martha Stewart subscribers.  No post-it note on the front that it got into a neighbor’s box by mistake and was just discovered.

Neither of us has taken time to look through the magazine yet so I can’t say for sure if we’ve ever laid eyes on this issue before.  I doubt if I could say that with certainty, anyway.  Nyel, however, remembers amazing things about recipes he’s read, even if years ago.  He may be able to determine whether this is a long-lost item of mail or if it’s some sort of hiccup – as in an unexplained repeat performance from the Martha Stewart publishing house.

Food for thought?  Probably not…