Dedicated to my mom...

Memories of youth explode as visions of sugar and creamy butter this time of year.

Mom's yearly ritual of creating sweet treats for all who crossed our porch

Caramel, divinity, fudge, marshmallow

The sound of scissors slicing waxed paper to small squares

Spooning golden gooey caramel hoping to hit the paper

Rolling and twisting attempting to trap the sweet surprises

The feeling in the spoon handle as it scraps the metal bowl

Scooping pink, blue and white clouds of whipped mixture

Puffs of sweet corn syrup confections float through my thoughts

Pouring smooth creamy cocoa brown melted concoction from the pan

Hoping to level the luscious liquid on the plate with the old wooden spoon

The smell of chocolate fudge whirls through my memory, I still smell it now.

Rolling the sticky white marshmallow in a messy mound of chopped walnuts

Fingers covered in nuts and candy

Mom’s smiling face smudged with who knows what

and her singing off key

The sights, sounds and smells of my mom’s kitchen rush back to me for the holidays

The kitchen table was the place to be. I miss that.

But mostly, I miss her.

Be well! Tj.