Noodles by Mail

How are you feeling? Of the half-dozen or so calls I fielded yesterday, the majority were from people croaking and hacking as though they'd spent the previous evening screaming lyrics at a Rolling Stones concert. And most of my family, Facebook friends and coworkers are either getting over a cold or flu or still battling something.

When I get sick, I flop like a boneless chicken into bed and wait for my husband Steve to come pull a snuggly blanket over my shoulders and kiss my forehead. And by wait, I mean wait. Sure, he might toss me a piece of toast and a glass of water as he gathers the kids and heads out the door to school and work. I can't ask for much for than that, really.

But then I spend the day with my head hurting and my stomach growling, wishing I could be transported back to the bedroom of my youth where my mom would come in with some soup and a popsicle. Basically, I roll around in misery and try to muster enough energy to drag myself into the kitchen for a cold bowl of cereal.

The next time you have an ailing friend or relative, think of how much that person might appreciate a service like Spoonful of Comfort Chicken Soup. This brand-new chicken-soup delivery business was started by a Florida woman, who came up with the idea of sending some comfort in the form of chicken soup to her mom, who was living in Canada when she was diagnosed with lung cancer.

In honor of her late mom, she devised a way to help others spread some warmth and comfort. The chicken soup is made in small batches using just the basic natural ingredients: chicken stock, pasta noodles, carrots, celery, onion, parsley and salt and pepper. She then puts it into a nicely packaged 64-ounce jar, and it's instantly ready to ship off to someone to make them feel better. Jars are $32, and you can also buy rolls and cookies to round out a nice meal. And owner Marti Bowes Wymer donates a portion of every purchase to the American Cancer Society – and that makes us all feel better.