Is it Really a SIGN of Friendship?

Sunday I came home to a cryptic message on vm. 

“Hey girl, I have something for you, give me a call when you get home”

Being insanely curious I called her back.

“I have something for you, I’ll have dear son run it on over”

A few minutes what arrives with ds—a big ole ziploc bag of Amish Friendship Bread starter. 

Joy…kinda, sorta, maybe??

I know that Amish Friendship Bread is about sharing with friends, and apparently mostly about a whole bunch of calories packed into a yummy loaf of bread.  However…this is the gift that keeps on giving.

and giving…

and giving…

and giving some more!!  So is a gift that gives perpetually—and requires a perpetual amount of extra work REALLY a gift?  That seems to me sort of like giving a pregnant bunny to a friend because bunnies are sweet and cute and fluffy.  We should be smarter, we SHOULD, but we’re not. 

So I’ve decided to be a TRUE friend today and I’m not giving starter away. 

*ok, I did give one gladware of starter to a gal who popped by this morning and after we were chatting mentioned she’d NEVER had AFB or done the starter thing.  Who am I to withhold this learning experience from her??*

I am making all the bread—4 large loaves and 4 small—and giving them to my friends ready made.  Because I’m that kind of friend,  I understand that gifts shouldn’t come with strings (or extra work) attached.