Part 3

Granny's table was massive to a four year old's eyes. At one end she kept non refrigerated condiments clustered and covered with a heavy, dark blue with yellow flowers, oil cloth. Pickles, relishes and peppers packed in vinegar for pouring over your turnip greens were kept safely under there. But that wasn't all that was hidden under the cloth. Granny always kept cookies safe from flies under there as well. I remember visiting and waiting anxiously for the adult conversation to dwindle for I mustn't interrupt the grownups. But as soon as they seemed to run out of steam, I would quietly approach Granny sitting there in her front porch swing and wait until she noticed me. Then I would whisper in a timid little voice to this larger than life figure already knowing her answer. "Granny can I have a cookie?" She never corrected my grammar she just nodded and smiled and said 'yes you may have a cookie, you know where they are." Then it was like Christmas Day all over again as I'd approach the oil cloth. Now you must understand that Granny's cookies never changed in variety. They were always the same thing. I knew when I went into the kitchen what kind they would be, where they would be, and how they would look in their little dish. But no matter, something about having to raise that cloth made it feel like I was opening a present. Then I'd reach in and pluck one cookie never more than that, though she never said how many I could have, it was an understood rule of respect to take only one. They were the biggest cookies I had ever had and the only time I ever had them was at her house. They were tea cakes. No peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip, or oatmeal raisin. Just simple tea cakes. Not exactly the sweetest cookies you'll ever have but I can still taste them and they were such a treat to me back then.

Nowadays when I make dessert I often stand around pondering what to make. I hate to present the family with the same pie or cake as the week before, in fear that they will get tired of the same old thing. But then I think of Granny on her baking day she would
bring out the same ingredients each week to make those tireless tea cakes. How simple it was to know each week what your shopping list would consist of and what was expected of you on baking day. One other thing that never seemed to change was the cereal on top of the refrigerator. It was always corn flakes. Again the trip to the grocery store must have been a breeze. Today the cereal isle alone is intimidating, with so many types and tastes to choose from. But that didn't deter her. No matter there were versions with sugar or bran flakes with raisins, corn flakes it was!