Teddy, crafting a letter
Welcome to Five Minute Friday, where we join Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama on just writing for five straight minutes, no editing, no criticizing, no worrying. Just writing and letting it fly. If you would like to join us, click on the link at the bottom of this post.
Welcome to my version this morning, where my mind is running out of control, like a horse who has been spooked, and I am having difficulty figuring out how to write about the topic of whole.
I offer a disclaimer before I begin: I am throwing the Friday rules out the window, as I can sense that this post will take longer than five minutes and it is definitely going to get edited.
On Being Whole, Frying Holes and Teddy Bear Letters
I don’t know why, but this morning the word “whole” reminds me of doughnuts.
You know, doughnut holes.
Sorry about that bad pun, but it really is what came to mind.
Doughnut holes: Those cool little round doughnut balls that my mom and grandmother used to make when they made doughnuts.
If you shop at commercial donut shops, I think they are called munchkins, if you need that point of reference.
If you have never had freshly cooked doughnut holes rolled in sugar, well, you just don’t know what you are missing.
Anyway.
Thinking about the doughnuts makes me think about the manuscript I am reading. My grandmother authored it in her 80’s, and it is the story of the teddy bear she received when she was around 6 years old and still had when she passed away at 97.
Gram wrote “Loved to Pieces, Letters from a Teddy Bear”, penning each missive from a particular season of the year, through the teddy bear’s eyes.
One of the letters is about Sugaring Season, in which she mentions the delightful treat of sugar on snow paired with home-made doughnuts and pickles.
As was the standard for the day, the entire family was involved in the process, often with the addition of hired help.
The whole family.
Together.
Working their way through the seasons, loving, laughing, worrying, supporting; planting, baking, harvesting, haying, gathering wood for fuel against the bitter cold of winter.
I guess that’s part of what tripped my trigger today.
The family-my family-being whole, and working together, knowing that they could and we can lean on one another for encouragement and support.
The other part is about my gram-the writer, the mother, the teacher, the little girl nicknamed Mysie-hoping to publish another book for the family (it would be her third or fourth), bringing more of our history to light, bringing more of the whole picture of who we are and the folks from whom we descended.
Although Gram never got beyond the finished manuscript stage, she did leave notes and sketches of ideas for putting the book together.
My hope is to bring the book to life, to work with my mom to make it whole, for the family, and perhaps even a wider audience.
I think Gram would be pleased.
This is funny and cute! I cracked up when you mentioned about the doughnut hole! 😛
Your Gram is such an inspiration.
Thanks for stopping by, Irene. Glad my thoughts made you smile.
Yes, indeedy, my Gram was and is an inspiration to me.
Wonderful story! I would love to read your Gram’s stories of wholesome family love. Thanks for sharing that window into your family’s life.
You are welcome. Her writing is a great reminder to write daily, to document the everyday in our lives, for that is where the interesting details are. They may seem mundane, but as time passes they provide such a colorful, intimate picture of our lives, especially for our children as they become adults and have their own families.
Mmm doughnut holes…om nom nom.
Would this be a good time for me to pitch my idea about all of us hitting the road and starting our own family band?
That would be a good “together” activity.
The best thing about doughnut holes? They are fat, sugar and calorie free because they are holes. How can holes have any of those things?
We can definitely go on the road. No real talent, no problem, as long as we have home made doughnuts to sustain us!