Bev and her boyfriend Ben (the two of them are also known as "Benerly") were staying with us last weekend as they were in town for Bev's cousin's wedding reception in Brooklyn. They are both super-easygoing guests to entertain (even though it was Ben's first time in NYC, he didn't want to hit any of the touristy spots...bizarre) and we had a great time at the Met (they are both pretty geeky, as we spent about seven hours there. Ben also educated me on ancient Greek art and history. Neolithic/Cycladic?)

Not only are they great guests, they went out of their way to make us a "Pumpkin Roulade." Now, in any other home this perhaps would not be so arduous a task. Yet, to give you a taste of the efforts that laid ahead, this is a snippet of the conversation between Bev, Ben and I immediately after the two of them had decided to make it:

Ben: "So do you have eggs?"
Me: "No."
Ben: "So do you have butter?"
Me: "Err... no."
Ben: "Probably no cream cheese?"
Me: "No."
Ben: "Do you have a mixer or handmixer of some sort?"
Me: "Um, no."
Bev: "We can just use a wire whisk."
Me: "Uh, we don't have that either. You could use a fork..."
*Silence*
Me: "Really, guys, this is too much trouble."
Ben: "Well, at least you have flour and confectioners powdered sugar..." (BTW - I have no idea why we'd have those things. They are probably at least 3-4 years old and shipped over in the move from Seattle.)

And yet, the not-to-be-easily-dissuaded Benerly went about the neighborhood to buy various ingredients and to find the handmixer (which took at least 3 stops). And they finally did find it (at a K-mart not in the neighborhood.) And they got up really early (before 7am, at least) on Monday morning to make the Pumpkin Roulade before they left for California.

The end result: "ohmygoodness-this-is-so-good." Jason kept saying, "You know, they're always welcome here. Especially if they make this for us again."

Benerly - will you do us the kindness of posting your recipe? And what on earth am I going to do with a handmixer?

How can you expect to keep your powers of hearing when you never want to listen? That God should have time for you, you seem to take as much for granted as that you cannot have time for Him.

- Dag Hammarskjold in MARKINGS