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Saturday, September 25, 2010

The Magnificent Memory Biscuit

Today Dad, My Husband and The Kids Cut, Split and Hauled Home This Load of Wood.



Mom and I Played This Game of Scrabble Outside at The Picnic Table while Moonbeam Slept. (I stomped her!!!)






Dad Picked Out These Giant Slabs of Bacon!! Mmmm.....





Every Day We Go Out For A Hike Together. Today Mom Did 4 Miles!!



























There Is Also A lot Card Playing Going On!! Mom And Kaleb Give A High Five As They Win A Game!!


This evening, after dinner, I heard the river calling my name. As I kayaked, fresh crisp air and the stunning autumn beauty enveloped me. I couldn't help thinking about the conversation we'd had at dinner and I decided it was worthy of ink.
It was a special dinner. Mom and Dad had taken us grocery shopping yesterday and we'd ended up with a cart full of things the children were thrilled about. These bounties included 4 tubs of ice cream with toppings, 4 bags of assorted chips, bacon as as thick as your ear and giant fresh salmon slabs.
Buying fresh salmon is a rare luxury, and a favorite of all. Watchfully, I broiled it along with preparing lundberg rice, steamed green beans, and rolling out baking powder biscuits.
As we sat down, savoring the meal, my mom deeply inhaled with a smile. "Oh baking powder biscuits" she sighed, and suddenly she was far away. More than 50 years ago, as a little girl, my mother went camping at White Pines State Park along with her brothers and sisters. My mom was the youngest of 9 children. Her mother, being a poor but proud woman, went to the lodge. It was the only establishment around and she needed something to feed her brood. She told the manager that she didn't have enough money to take her children there to eat at the restaurant, but would like to buy something to feed them. Some 50 years ago, though the people very well may be dead and gone, a random act of kindness is still remembered as if were yesterday. My grandmother returned to her children with a coffee can of baking powder biscuits frosted in orange juice icing. That special breakfast triggered a memory that lived on in the mind of my mother and probably her brothers and sisters as well.
It got me to thinking of how important it is for me to make a difference to others today. In this whirlwind of days we live in, time flies away so fast that you will barely blink and what you're reading right now will be nothing but a memory. Fifty years from now, five years from now how will you be remembered? Did you encourage people? Did you make a difference in the life of a child? Have you comforted the sick or eased the financial struggles of a stranger? Will somebody remember that you went out of your way to help them?
My kids remember the best waitresses they've had even from years ago. They also remember people and workers who have been rude. One of our favorite family games is called "Apples to Apples". We make our own cards for the game and play it whenever we visit my side of the family. In the cards are a lot of old family jokes. Some one lays down an adjective card and everybody throws down a card that they think best describes it. People who have tried to cheat or insult or otherwise offend any of us over the years have earned their names in there and every year we have laugh at their expense all over again. Of course our own names are in there, as are characters in our favorite (or cheesiest) movies, silly nouns, etc.. On and on we play. On and on we laugh at the choices of cards played.
I guess my point is is that we should try to do things worthy of being remembered. Sometimes going out of your way in the time it takes to roll out a few baking powder biscuits will make a memory in somebody for life. Live wisely and purposefully. Live well and free or die with regret and make a difference with a random act of kindness.





8 comments:

Christine said...

I hope I can leave a string of good memories for people to remember me by. What a great story. What a good mom your ma had.
And you have for that matter. What a nice day for you.

Simple Home said...

So true my friend. You play a mean game of scrabble too! You came up with some long words :-)
I'm glad you're having such a great time with your family.
Blessings,
Marcia

Heather said...

I love this post! I say that every time, don't I?!

It's so good to see pics from the past few days. Mom & Dad look like they're thriving! Thanks for being such a blessing to them!

I laughed at the Apples to Apples reference. We just played it with Jacob's sister and bro-in-law a few weeks ago. We had to keep throwing out cards, though, because so many of them were inside jokes from our side of the family! (Stubborn belly fat lives on!)

Love you!

Becky said...

Glad you are having a good visit with your folks. Love the story of the biscuits and the insight. Wish I could have joined in on that Scrabble game, I love Scrabble.

from MN said...

I love to play Scrabble! When we come someday (I am hoping...) maybe we can play a game after a long walk in the mountains!

As I read your post, I couldn't help but wonder... Hmmm - I hope that if we are in your game we might be some good memories! :)

Oh yes- there's nothing quite like a good game of spades either! Noone else we know plays it-

Miss you all-

Mama Bear said...

This was just simply lovely and heartfelt to read and apply to my thoughts today. This is an absolute of how we need to spend each day. It's so easy to sort out our problems that need solving or the negatives they weigh on our minds, but after reading this, it made me realize how short life is and how we need to wake up each morning, with servant hearts to share with others, especially the ones we share a home and journey with. Thank you for sharing something so simple and wonderful. Loved looking at your photos. That scrabble game looked fun!

LibbyLibbyLibbyLibbyLibby said...

Absolutely LOVE the pictures and wow, what a beautiful post.
I love hearing stories on Random Acts of Kindness.

Your dinner sounds so goooood!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I like a cozy fire in the fireplace but I don't care much for splitting wood. :-(

The last time I had some wood to split I paid a neighborhood kid to do it. :-)

And nowadays I only have a phony gas log in my fireplace.

~Ron