How are you, my friend?
I made this video of my friend, Tricia, yesterday, when we paused to take in the festive sites and smells at the Ferry Building in San Francisco.
She had just handed me a colorful gift bag filled with homemade cookies that are a tradition in her family: a Norwegian waffle cookie called Krumkake. (Pronounced kroom-ka-ka).
I was touched by the gift — knowing that she was handing me way more than a bag of cookies. She was giving me a small part of her family history.
She was giving me a peek into her childhood. She was giving me a gift of her own experience of spending time in the kitchen at the holidays, taking care in order to recreate a childhood treat.
I hadn’t intended to share this video with you; it was simply something I wanted for myself.
However, I woke up today thinking about those cookies.
I am so touched by their history — not just in Tricia’s family, but in families all over the world who carry their roots with them in similar ways — via a little butter, sugar, and flour!
People all over the world are re-creating family rituals at the holidays — making foods that go back in history. It is a beautiful way to connect to our ancestors. AND, it connects us to people in our lives right here and now.
It is a circle of love from past to present and all around!
Maybe YOU do this in some way?
Can you think of it?
***
Another close friend just sent an email about preparations for Holy Supper in a small town in Pennsylvania. Since she was a little girl, they’ve had supper with three or four dozen relatives, the tables lined up and snaking throughout the house!
They, too, have a family cookie. Theirs is called Kiffles.
My mom used to make these peanut butter cookies with big Hershey’s chocolate kisses — one kiss in the center of each cookie! I started baking those cookies at the holidays when my son was little. We added our own twist — a literal twist!— that when the cookies are warm, we twirl the kiss so it spreads out a there is more chocolate per bite!
Even though my son is 22, he is still game to do the cookie-twist with me.
It always makes me smile.
***
So, hopefully you feel the warmth in your heart as you read this today. Hopefully you are connecting to your own family traditions.
If you click over to the YouTube video, please comment and tell me about YOUR family history cookie, other food item, or decoration. I’d love to hear!
Tricia’s gift to me was this: she was giving me the opportunity to be a part of a large web of connection called FAMILY, in the biggest sense of the word.
That’s what I feel with YOU, when we share our stories.
We are family!
I’m so grateful.
***
I love you and am cheering you on, always.
We’re all in this together.
Thanks for who you are and for your big heart.
Seek celebration — even in the dark corners,
xo Sherry