My regular readers will remember reading about the not so sweet side of my dad. That is all true but I am choosing to remember the sweet side of my dad, especially now that he’s gone (he died in May of 2015).
One of these memories is of when my mom went to the hospital “to bring home” my little sister. My brothers were at school. My sister and I didn’t go to school yet. My dad stayed home to take care of us. I remember sitting in the corner of the kitchen, out of the way, next to my sister, while my dad mopped the floor. He was cleaning as much as he could while my mom was gone so she would not have to do it when she got home. So he scrubbed the floor then waxed the floor while we sat and watched. He talked to us the whole time. When he was finished and the floor was dry, he moved the chairs back to the table and we sat as he baked cookies. We weren’t used to him baking or cooking but when he did do it, we knew there were be special sweetness to enjoy. He didn’t use a recipe. He just did what he remembered. He made little bite-sized cookies for us. They had anise in them and were covered with powdery sugar. They were delicious. My mouth waters for them when I remember.
A few years later, I remember him making candy for us. He hammered a nail on the kitchen wall and when the candy was “cooked” and cool enough to touch, he hung the mixture on the nail and began to pull it into a long, thing rope, pulling over and over until it was just right. Then while it was still pliable, he cut it into little pieces, just big enough for our little mouths. It was delicious pulled taffy. He didn’t do that often but when he did, it was such a treat, not just the edible kind but the kind that made us look up to him with smile and sweet love and anticipation.
That’s the part I like to remember when I think of him. That, and dancing with my feet on top of his; “reading” the newspaper with him before I could read; having him push me on the swings; listening to the stories he told us about his childhood.
I hope you all have wonderful, sweet memories of your dad to look back on.
Happy Father’s Day.
These are beautiful memories! I am so glad you have them, and you have the love and sense to hold on to them. Holding onto these, while letting go of the other, brings healing.
Barbara from Life & Faith in Caneyhead
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You’re right, Barbara. There’s nothing to be gained from holding on to the negative past. We just have to move on past it.
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Such nice memories to have! My dad would occasionally buy one snickers bar and cut it up to split between five kids. I have yet to find a snickers that tasted as wonderful as those! 💖
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lovely memories you have shared here Corina.
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The happy memories are the best. I know that many of your memories aren’t, but it’s extra sweet when you embrace the good ones 🙂
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There really isn’t anything to be done about the past so why dwell on it.
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