#Writing 101: Happy (Insert Special Occasion Here)!
Tell us about your favorite childhood meal — the one that was always a treat, that meant “celebration,” or that comforted you and has deep roots in your memory.
Free free to focus on any aspect of the meal, from the food you ate to the people who were there to the event it marked.
Today’s twist: Tell the story in your own distinct voice.
As I contemplated today’s writing assignment, the first thing that came to mind was Christmas Eve and Holy Supper at Grandma’s House. It really IS one of my favorite childhood tradition memories.
But I think I will save that for another time.
Then I got a little punchy and thought about writing about when we had Corn on the Cob for dinner when I was growing up.
When we had Corn on the Cob for dinner – that was dinner…
Corn on the Cob…
That’s it…
Just lots and lots of Corn on the Cob…
I liked it… Thought nothing of it…
Until I got a bit older and found out that people typically serve Corn on the Cob as a vegetable to accompany dinner – not as THE dinner.
But then what kept coming to mind was “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Yep. That’s it!
Waaaayyy back when I was a child (a hundred thousand and fifty some years ago), “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was aired on television ONE TIME each year.
It was usually around the first of December. (Because way back then, we didn’t start thinking about (promoting/pushing/shoving in your face) Christmas until AFTER Halloween and Thanksgiving.)
So the airing of “Rudolph” marked the beginning of the Holiday season to me as a child.
It ranked up there with the arrival of the J. C. Penney Christmas Catalog in the mail.
But I digress.
We are supposed to be talking about a favorite childhood meal here… one that was a treat – that marked a celebration.
Well – the airing of “Rudolph” meant a great celebratory “meal.”
It meant Mom would pop a fresh batch of Jiffy Pop Popcorn. A VERY special treat!
I was mesmerized watching her shake the flat foil-covered pan over the stop top burner until the foil rose, forming a steam-filled crown of buttery puffed corn kernels that smelled like heaven on earth. It was a rare treat – saved for special occasions such as this.
My brother and I would get in our warm footie pajamas after a playful Mr. Bubble bath. With our hair still wet and our rosey cheeks squeaky clean, we would find our place on the floor in front of the black and white TV with rabbit ear antennae anticipating the excitement of Rudolph’s escapades with the Abominable Snowman, to the Island of Misfit Toys, and back to save the day for Santa!
Along with the heaping bowl of artificial buttered puffed kernels of heavenly goodness, the piece de resistance was the HOMEMADE Hot Cocoa Mom would make with…….. wait for it….. the BEST part of all……. Marshmallow CREME!!!!!!!!
The Marshmallow Creme would cover the entire steamy cup of cocoa so that it would take almost the entire hour of the program for us to be able to drink since it sealed in the steam, but also created the stickiest, most delicious cream mustaches on our upper lips that mingled with the salty delight of the popped corn.
To this day, I still watch “Rudolph’s” first airing on CBS – usually at 8pm followed by “Frosty the Snowman” (which I needn’t watch anymore).
I still make popcorn, and I sing EVERY single song out loud with a huge smile on my face.
I still feel so sad for “Rudolph” when the others make fun of him.
I still feel giddy when Clarice tells him he is cute.
I still feel sad when Mrs. Claus tells Santa to “Eat Papa – Eat – No one likes a skinny Santa!”
I’m no longer afraid of the Abominable Snowman – FINALLY!!!! (But still freaked out by the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz – SCARIEST movie EVER!)
And I still CLAP with joy when Rudolph saves the day – and the misfit toys.
I can recite just about every line.
I sing every song out loud and proud.
I am strange – aren’t I?
Can anyone relate?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 