There are some good things about getting older. It's true! For example, the older we are, the more stories we have to tell. Some may be sad, even painful. But others are full of humor and joy. How often do we start a conversation with the phase, “I remember when…”?
There is something alluring about the stories of days gone by. The past seems warm, wrapped in the sunlight yellow glow of nostalgic memories, but the memories only occur in fragments and always fade away.
With the holidays fast approaching, it is natural to wander down memory lane, gather a collection of memories, and relive childhood moments as if they were yesterday. My recent trip down memory lane occurred just yesterday as I was out for my morning run. God sometimes allows me a detour off the running track to take a ‘cool down’ walk down Memory Lane. It is these precious memories that remind us of God’s goodness, love, and blessings.
And so it begins…my very own rendition of days gone by stories; taking the fragments of my childhood memories and retelling them before they fade away.
“I remember when”…
Having a grandmother that enjoyed family gatherings, regardless of the occasion, she insisted on weekly “coffee parties”. These coffee parties, attended by all the women in the family, were not hastily thrown together affairs! Oh no, they were complete with full coffee party regalia. The table was set with pretty things, tablecloth, coffeepots, cups in saucers, and silver teaspoons. If the coffee parties happen to fall near one of the ladies birthdays or special occasion the special china would replace the regular coffee set. Naturally there was the coffee party food! There was always cookies, coffee cakes, tiny little finger sandwiches, and plenty of chocolate! Oh, I do recall seeing a veggie tray or the occasional fruit salad; however I think that was more to ease guilt than desire to eat healthy.
Now my father, along with the other males in the family, would joke about ‘male-bashing parties’, ‘gripe-sessions’, and ‘gossip gatherings’. My own mother didn’t like attending such gatherings. As a young mother, she was overwhelmed with multitude of laundry, housework, and little ones to tend to; she begged off going to many of these ‘hen parties’ (as she called them). However, I do recall the first time my Aunt Dora Dean stopped by the house and insisted I be allowed go with her to one of these gatherings. Up until the age of eight, I was stuck with only two brothers as playmates, and they never wanted to play with me because I was a mere girl! Didn’t matter that I could run, jump, and climb a tree faster than either of them, they held fast to ‘no girls allowed’. Oh how excited I was that day; my first grown-up event. A typical tomboy, it was with great pains, but my aunt managed to convince me to put on a dress, scrub my face until it shined, and cover my skinned up knees with large band-aides! And off we went to my very first coffee party!
As the ladies alternated playing host each week, this day the coffee party was being held at my grandmother’s home, one of my favorite places to visit; second only to the top of the large oak in our backyard! Having raising 10 children during the depression, my grandmother could take a little bit of nothing and make it look like a feast for kings & queens! The table was set perfectly with something for everyone; tea, coffee, cakes, cookies, muffins, and of course the chocolate! Naturally I was interested in all the sweets, but more importantly I was being allowed entrance to the ‘forbidden zone’; I was finally able to take a peek into this secret society known only to the women of my family!
As I sipped my coffee, more milk than coffee mind you, I listened intently on everything being said. Needless to say, I was too young to understand such words as menstrual cycle, hysterectomy, menopause, and didn’t have a clue what a “painted up wanton-hussy” might be. I didn’t care; I was now a part of something that my brothers would never be allowed a part of! They could keep their “no girls allowed” signs and stick them where the sun didn’t shine! I was a part of something bigger than forts, make-believe war games, and GI Joes; I was learning about life!
Over the years, those little coffee parties’ gatherings touched on every aspect of life; every emotion involving raising children, growing up, womanhood, living, dying, and even death & grieving. Through their stories, these women revealed life’s ups & downs; the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly… each in their own fashion. Listening to the women of my family taught me about life, love, and the importance of family relationships.
Keeping this in mind, it is no wonder that I have developed a love of coffee over the years. Coffee, conversation, smiles, laughter, sharing….all adds up to love.
And on that note....I will be available for calls off & on today starting around 9:30 this morning until late this evening to make up for my limited availability these past few days. As always, callbacks are appreciated to ensure we connect. I look foward to sharing with everyone today.