Tribute to my Grandmother

My passion for food began as a little girl in my grandmothers kitchen.
Standing on a wooden stool, just tall enough to watch her drop ingredient
after ingredient into a pot, not all at once, but with some mysterious
timing only she knew. The cooper pots hung above our heads, the radio on the
mangle was barely heard above the sizzle and her apron pockets were filled
with matches, spoons for tasting and snips of herbs from grandpa's garden.
I was mesmorized by the aromas. She would put everything under my nose,
sometimes just one, then two combined..."See how they smell so good
together!", she would say. I couldn't wait until I was big enough to start
cooking, but I had so much fun being her "little helper" that the time
passed quickly before I had the honor of preparing a meal for her...

That morning was Mother's Day. Grandpa woke me up even before the robins had
starting singing. We quietly slipped out to the garden to cut rhubarb. He
shared his plan to surprise grandma with breakfast in bed. We would have to
work fast because she would be rising soon. After a large mess, we managed
to make rhubarb scones out of a recipe from the famous red & white checkered
cookbook, cooked bacon strips, carefully pouring the remaining fat into the
coffee can. I poured grapefruit juice into glasses, while he cut lilacs and
put them into a glass milk jug.

Once the tray was carefully arranged , I opened the door to their bedroom,
jumping on the bed. "Happy Mother's Day Grandma",I gleefully yelled,
"Wake-up, Wake-up!" The three of us sat under the covers together, dropping
crumbs all over the blankets. She gave me big hugs and kisses, saying how
proud she was of me. Even though I was really only Grandpa's helper this
time, and of course, Grandma faked she was still sleeping while we cooked,
to me, this was my first solo kitchen flight not under her wings.

This was a special Mother's Day for both of us. Years later, I would find
myself laughing with my own children as we shared a bedroom brunch. The
tradition continues....