Every time I make No-Bake Cookies, I think of my Granny (Bonnie's Mom). During my 6 weeks of summer with Dad & Bonnie I always spent a week or so in Wellston, OK with Granny. I was miserable and bored about 80% of the time. I was a city kid, and as far as I was concerned, that small town was full of nothing but old people and dirt.
But, 20% of the time I was in Heaven.
Granny was my kinda lady. A dessert before dinner, cookies for breakfast & cake is a food group, kinda lady. She ALWAYS had a full batch of No-Bake Cookies in the freezer for us to munch on. She thought peanut butter mixed with syrup on toast was a fabulous dinner idea.
As the scent of boiling sugar, milk, butter and cocoa filled the kitchen, all I could think of was how I wish I had appreciated that time with her more. If I'd have known then what I know now... I'd have talked to all those old people, learned the things I long to know about now. Soaked in the slow days and quiet nights. Learned to work the dirt instead of finding it alien and gross. Paid more attention to her instruction so I wouldn't be struggling with crocheting now.
Granny went home to be with the Lord shortly after I graduated high school (1999). I was moving into my first apartment at the time and a large portion of my kitchen was from her things. I still cherish those things dearly.
My life is incredibly busy, but it's so important to me to not waste the time I have with family. Especially those that can teach me from their experiences.
I made jelly last Friday night with Grandma Schader (Dad's Mom). Every time I'm with her she tells me fabulous stories. Stories of her Mama and Daddy, and growing up on their farm. Stories of my Daddy, which never cease to make me laugh {he was, and is, a mess - makes me wonder if Hayden didn't get it from HIM!}. Fabulous things that I would never know if not for her.
She taught me how to make bread when I was too small to reach the counter top. She gave me my first canning lesson (sweet pickles which I absolutely love) when I was about 13. She still tries to help me figure out how to crochet...though I fear I'm a lost cause.
My Grandma Schader truly is the woman I hope to be some day. A mother {but not a helicopter}, a wife {but still an individual}, a homemaker, a homesteader, a gardener, our matriarch. She's honestly the most intelligent woman I know and I'd be honored for someone to tell me someday that I remind them of her.
Pay attention to the traditions and stories of the past. It's up to our generation to carry them on to the next.
I don't know exactly why, but this post puts a lump in my throat, a burn in my nose and tears in my eyes. Maybe it's sadness at the wonderful things of my childhood and my mother's childhood are lost to this generation. Or maybe it's because you have learned, while Mr. H is still young, how to appreciate your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thank you.