Durable Memories, the gift the keeps on giving...

While we greenies look for more durable goods to put our money into these days, it made me think about what makes a memory durable? What did I do 50 or so years ago that I still remember vividly? When it came to the holidays, it wasn't the gifts that perked up, it was the cookies!

My Grandma Bredernitz was the keeper of the magic tin, the one kept in the behind the stairwell door kept shut to keep the unheated upstairs from entering the room. Anytime you stopped by in December, before you sat down for a chat, you opened the door, got hit with the cold, musty air of an unused upstairs and opened the tin which always rested on the right side of the wooden step.

Inside - the usual mixture of peanut butter cookies with the Hershey's kiss in the middle (the winner of the PIllsbury backoff), ginger snaps, springles and an unending supply of frosted sugar cookies. My personal fav was the tree with the green frosting and the cinnamon ornaments. For some reason there was always one left. I swear she was restocking the tin the entire month of December.

With cookie in hand, we'd head for the livingroom which had room for three chairs. Grandma always stood behind her stuffed chair and graciously offer it to her guests. Even if there were only three of us, she still would keep her chair open. After years of observing her good manners, I asked why she didn't sit down with everyone else? 

Her answer? "I just like to stand next to the heater."

I can honestly say I don't recall one gift that my Grandmother gave me, but the memory of her cookies and talking and seeing her standing behind her chair hold fast. 

This post is part of the Green Mom Christmas Carnival graciously hosted by Jennifer Taggert over on www.thesmartmama.com/bg.

Comments

[Diane MacEachern]

I love all your "memory" posts, Mary. They keep things real. Happy holidays, friend!

[Anna @ Green Talk]

Mary, I echo Diane. I love to read when you talk about the past. I always feel like I am sharing a cup of tea with you as you muse about your life. Happy Holiday! Let's change the green building world in 2009!

[Rachael]

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