 |
| Four Generations of Girls |
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. And one of those things is that my mother is still baking her pies. If you know my mama, you know that she loves to bake. And she loves for you to eat what she has baked. And if you stop at just one piece of pie or cake, she will hound you to eat another piece until you either stuff yourself or hurt her feelings with a refusal. It's all or nothing I'm telling you. Mama has been baking and delivering her goods to neighbors, folks in nursing homes, shut ins, accountants, doctors, and bereaved families for decades. She has loved to bake as long as I can remember, and she has a penchant for baking pies. She knows everybody's favorites in the family, and in days past has always had a cherry pie or two in the freezer ready to go on a moment's notice to a family member who drops in or someone who just might need a pie for whatever reason. Why, she even sent me pies UPS in college!!! My entire dorm floor knew when I got a package from my mama, because I was handing out pieces of cherry pie at all hours of the night while we studied. When my mother has not been in our midst for a holiday, her pies have represented. And if I am the recipient of a random cherry pie, I usually save it for a dinner party or an event where I need to take something delicious and don't have the time to bake. I can remember proudly gifting my teachers a pecan pie for Christmas every year of my elementary school years ---so many people have been awarded a pie for decades, and I don't think any of them have gone to waste. Mom has a menu as long as Mrs. Smith's, and enjoys making every one. I'll go out on a limb here and say they are quite tasty---her crust is from scratch and her fillings have just the right amount of juice and fruit. But, since she has been feeling bad the last few months, I invited her to our house for Thanksgiving and we decided we would bake just one apple pie together the week before Thanksgiving. After all, we really didn't need too many pies for just 8 people for dinner. Now here is where her problem lies: she can't make just one. Mom called me the day before I was supposed to come to help her make the apple pie and told me she felt good enough to bake by herself and she would be fine in the kitchen......she told me she knew I had a lot to do to get ready and one pie would not be a problem. The next day the phone rang.......
Mama: Hey honey. I fixed the pie. Well, I fixed two apple pies. And two chocolate pies and a chocolate cake and a coconut cake--well, two coconut cakes because the first one fell apart.
Me: MAMA!!!! You have been feeling terrible and we decided one pie would be plenty for everybody! I just hate that you probably did not feel like making so many pies and cakes and besides, how are we going to eat all of those desserts?
(And this is definitely not the first time I have asked her this question) I know you must be sooooo tired and worn out from cooking! I'm so sorry!
Mama: Well, I wanted everyone to have their favorites , so when you come and get me, make sure you have plenty of room in the car for the desserts.
Me: (not wanting to sound ungrateful for the wonderful but over the top baking) Thanks so much,mom. I'll be there Thanksgiving morning to get you and the pies and cakes. I hope you feel like coming, because we would rather have you than your pies!!
And then she called me the day before Thanksgiving and told me that she just did not feel good enough to travel and that I should come and get the pies and leave her at home. (no wonder) So, we had a greatgrandma shortage and a pieless Thanksgiving , but traveled to see her today. And we hauled all the desserts back with us. She told me that sending us the desserts makes her feel part of the holiday even though she can't be with us. But if she had just made one, could she have made it for the holiday? I'm just sayin. And so I have a refrigerator full of sugar and mama. And I'm thankful.
