Over Salad and Hot Bread: What an Old Friend Taught Me About Life

by Mary Jenson

Featuring a foreword by Jerry Jenkins, bestselling author of the Left Behind series, this poignant and powerful story of friendship shares the simple truth about life and demonstrates how friendship, if you let it, can teach you new and unexpected lessons you never thought to learn.

Just as Tuesdays with Morrie affectionately presented unvarnished truths from a mentoring relationship between teacher and student, Over Salad and Hot Bread explores the life lessons that surface through the bond of two very different women.

A simple story of friendship, and so much more, this poignant, beautifully written book explores the relationship between two women, years apart, who are drawn together by a love for writing and road trips. The younger woman is an on-the-go mother/author/speaker, while the older is a free-spirited world traveler who was far ahead of her time.

This gentle memoir captures the tough and tender moments of their friendship through a series of vividly crafted stories sure to ring true to anyone who’s had a friend. The friendship that developed took both women on a journey of the heart—a journey that led one all the way to her forever home and the other to lessons she never thought to learn.

As you read the story of Mary Jenson and Nancy Bayless’s kinship, you’ll find your own heart opening to—and searching for—friendship of the richest kind.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2006

Reviews

[Sherry]

A story of friendship and facing death with grace and positivity, while having realistic expectations. It wasn't quite as heavy or impactful as Tuesdays with Morrie, but there were some similarities.

[Anne Calvert]

I laughed. I cried. Over Salad & Hot Bread is a true story of two women, who couldn’t be more different. Despite the differences, from age to personality and everything in between, they formed a beautiful friendship. In the short, five years of their friendship, they shared adventures, heartbreak, and life lessons. Mary Jenson packs this little book full of vulnerability and love. It’s full of nuggets on how to live. I recommend this sweet story of love and friendship.

[Dawn]

I enjoyed this little book telling of the authors relationship with an older lady she met at a writers conference and became friends with. It challenged readers to get your mind off yourself and not to be afraid to reach out to others, even strangers.

[Kim]

This was a pretty good book (true story) about the relationship of an older woman to a younger women. It was mostly about the life of the older woman and also of her approaching death. The best part was the last 3 or 4 chapters---I like this quote: "There are living people who are dead on the inside and dead people who continue to live on in the lives of others."

[Lauren]

Great book!

[Katie]

Sweet story...kind of choppy, but sweet (gotta love a true story!)

[Theda]

This book was great. I loved every minute of it. As a person with several "older" friends and siblings, it brought perspective to me.