“I brought you banana muffins; it’s Nana’s recipe.” So said my niece as she and her husband arrived for dinner last night. Her words, and her thoughtful gesture and especially the mention of our adored Nana touched me to my very core. Nana was my grandmother, and my niece’s great grandmother; this wonderful and dear woman from Maine lived to be 100. I have memories so vivid of Nana’s famous banana bread, and cinnamon rolls and rhubarb pie…I can smell her kitchen and hear her voice like she is in the room with me now. How very precious that our evening together last night included Nana, and how sweet that my niece would bring Nana with her into our home.

Food and family is so powerfully connected in our memory and senses and feelings. Maybe this is why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is a sensual holiday; it smells good and feels good and, again, evokes lovely memories of Nana helping to saute the onions and celery for the stuffing, and stirring the gravy on Thanksgiving morning.

I wonder what smells and feelings my children have that they will carry with them in their Thanksgiving holidays to come. I think I know their favorite dishes, but I better check again. I want to make sure I cement these memories in their heads and bodies forever.

Bookmark this: