SO, 'twas seven years ago this week, on the day after Thanksgiving as a matter of fact, that I discovered this house and decided to move back to the neighborhood where I lived when I was a girl. So last night I measured out 2 cups of flour, 2/3 of a cup of Crisco - the butter-yellow kind - and 2 teaspoons of salt for 2 pie crusts. Floured the tea cloth on my kitchen table, rolled them out, fitted them into the pans. Stirred up the makings for 2 pumpkin pies just as my mom did over in the next block 50 - fifty! - years ago. Half a century ago.

        Nothing like a slice of cold pumpkin pie for breakfast for taking some of the sting out of missing one's very own personal mom.