Cocoa and Memories

 Christmas this year has been going on since before the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers were eaten.  Turkey day was late on the calendar, and our first get together was early.  I eagerly popped the little tree up, in the hopes that this year our cat, Gracie (2) would let it stay that way. (she has) I had crocheted the most amazing giant rubber duck for the youngest guest, and I was so excited to give it to her! I also made a red and white scarf for it. 

Our friends, and also neighbors down the road, have become like family to us.  Their youngest sometimes slips and call me Grandma, and the oldest calls me Auntie on the regular, which is certainly fine with me. The kids come over to play from time to time, and their dad is like a son to the Brown Eyed Man.  If you saw them together, you would think he WAS the Brown Eyed Man Jr. Their Mom is very crafty, and likes to read, so we are never at a loss for things to talk about!  

This year there were some homemade cocoas included in the gift they gave us! The other night I tried White Chocolate, and I thanked Steph again, telling her how good it was, and that it was my favorite hot chocolate ever, even though I hadn't tried the others yet. Yesterday afternoon felt like a good time for a hot cocoa break, and I decided to give the plain old chocolate a try.  When I opened it, it smelled like the cocoa frosting my Grandma Meys used to make. MMMMmmmm I was eager to try the cocoa.  When I did, I got the surprise of my life.  It was identical to the hot chocolate my dad used to make for us, on the stove, when we were kids.  Nothing I've had since that time has matched it.  Nothing.  I was instantly transported back to my parents' pumpkin orange kitchen, with the avocado green appliances.  It was 1970 something, and we had just all returned from the local outdoor ice-skating rink. The three of us, (Davy, number 4, would have been small in this memory.) plus friends were crammed at the table, talking and laughing, waiting for Dad to finish up the hot chocolate he had made for us. 

It's something how a smell, sound, or a taste, can bring us right back to our childhood.  I've worked really hard over the years to create fun memories for the kids in my life, blood related, or not. Cocoa costs almost nothing, but those kiddo's who coming running through here in the summertime always ask for it, until I remind them there are popsicles (freezies) in the fridge. I never thought about it, until this very moment.  When I think about traditions, and making memories, I always give my Mom the credit for instilling that in me and making our holidays so much fun. Dad was there too though, on the outskirts of it for sure, and I always think of him on the 4th, because he really loved setting off fireworks, and finding the best spot to watch the big ones.  I had forgotten about he cocoa and the skating.  That, my friends, is a New Years memory.  Stay tuned, and Steph, thanks for the cocoa!