Well, here I am on the cusp of another milestone year mark, my birthday. It’s impossible it was a whole year ago we celebrated this significant day of growing older. Personally, at my age, I’d rather just cruise on by and not talk about it. But then I am reminded that if I didn’t have a birthday, what are the consequences? I know I am blessed to be here.
I can remember somewhat with good memories my 10-year intervals of age. At 20, I was almost legal. At 30, I had been a mama for several years. At 40, I was in fairly good shape and had very few wrinkles and crinkles on my face. At 50, I was a Meme and very active in community endeavors and undertakings. At 60, I was getting ready to quit working and just go home and relax. At 70, I was beginning to feel the years, backaches, knee joint pain, gray hair and lots more wrinkles and crinkles.
I think back to becoming “legal.” What is legality? We had been married for nearly four years at that time and I was not a drinker, so what did I gain? At 30, I was living my best years as I was raising two boys and a little girl and being a mama and that was the height of my vocation. These are the years that I have etched on my heart and mind forever.
When I finally came home to “sit,” I was bored so I went back to college, in my sixties, and sought an education in writing, journalism and art. At this time in my life, there was no pressure, and I was eager to expand my mind and enjoy another experience.
Now in my seventies, I relish and savor my life each day. I enjoy cooking and baking. I make my own breads and rolls and cook from scratch just like my grandmother did. I love babysitting my little Emmie Jo and love visits from my older grands and visits with friends to sit on my porch and have a glass of sweet tea. And I absolutely love writing and journaling.
I can’t but love those little eye wrinkles — my reminders of a life well laughed.
Our vegetables are really growing in our garden, and I can hardly wait. All I will need to enjoy them is a big buttery piece of crunchy cornbread. So, that is my recipe.
1 cup of cornmeal
1 cup of self-rising flour
½ cup of melted butter
1/3 cup of brown sugar
2 T. honey
1 large egg
1 cup of really good buttermilk
Mix all well and bake at 400 degrees in a skillet with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
