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Bread and Wars
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! So I bet you readers thought I had forgotten Memorial Day and
might be apt to forget the 4th of July, too. No - I remembered. There's
been so much happening and little time or space to write about it all.
I figured I'd just tell you a truthful story.
When I was really young - maybe 4 or so - my Mom, her Mom, and I would
go to a couple of cemeteries for "Decoration Day." I wrote it that way
for a reason - you'll see why. Decoration Day is what we now know as
Memorial Day.
The end of May is usually when you see flowerbeds somewhere between
"already started" and "all bloomers bloomed." Grandma had Irises,
Bearded Irises, Tiger Lilies, Ferns, Kaiser Crowns, and many more.
She'd save a metal coffee can - washed out and rinsed. The evening
before our journey she'd put stones in the bottom of the can and add
water. Shiny Reynold's Wrap and a bow on the outside of the can
completed the "vase." Early on the morning of our cemetery trip Grandma
would cut flowers and ferns. With care and love (you'll see why I
worded it this way) she arranged the flowers. To a small young girl -
the car looked full of flowers. I sat in the back seat. Mom brought
flowers from her flowerbeds. Everywhere I looked - flowers. They were
on the floorboards - they were on the seat on either side of me.
At the cemeteries - for Decoration Day - we "spruced up" the headstones
or markers. That meant we pulled any stray weeds, grass, etc. Some
would wash the headstone - others brushed dirt and dust from it. On the
way to the cemetery I listened as stories were told about the
now-deceased relatives. "Grandpa always did love fresh-baked bread.
Aunt Hester made the best apple pies...I can still smell them. She
never would write down her recipe - said she'd take it with her to her
grave. I guess she did, too. (laughs). I remember Uncle Cletus built
Aunt Mavis a blanket chest out of pure cedar. He did that because he
loved her so. He said he knowed he weren't no prize and Aunt Mavis
doted on him with her cookin' and raisin' the ornery boys she bore him.
He always said he caught her lookin' at one like it at a sale. She
never asked for it. He said he caught her lookin' at it "sly-like" when
she thought he wasn't lookin' at her. Grandma Mary was a homebody. Give
her food and a few flowers to tend and she was happy. I never heard her
cuss - never saw her cry." And on the stories went.
That was "Decoration Day." It was decorating a grave - and maybe
decorating our hearts, too. There were only a few tears and a lot of
laughs and smiles with the "good-time" stories. Can you smell the
fresh-baked bread from the above story? Can you see the butter melting
on it? Can you imagine how good it would taste with a little cinnamon
and sugar on it and a mug of coffee?
Our 4th of July was Independence Day. Mostly the same as above and the
fact that we fought for our freedom in this new land - our USA - was
added. We fought for our freedom - the freedom to bake and eat bread
with coffee (or tea). (That's true. Look up the Boston Tea Party!) And
we fought for a few other things, too.
Thanks to all who have served and are currently serving. Have a slice
of cinnamon bread and a mug of coffee - you deserve it!
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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