The Power of Memory
Posted by Mary Caraccioli | Filed under Lifestyle
You never know when those flashes of memory are going to occur. But when they do, even the most distant recollection comes alive. My Mom experienced one today and then wrote about it so eloquently, I just had to publish it. I hope you enjoy it! -Mary
The Sugar Bowl
Did you ever reach for the sugar bowl only to find it empty? This morning I reached for mine and there in the very bottom was a few sugar crystals, just enough for my coffee. When I was a little girl during World War 2, sugar was very scarce, in fact even with our war ration stamps, it could be a couple of months before sugar might be available at the store. Most of the sugar came from the islands and transport across the Atlantic was very dangerous. And so we rarely ever had the priceless sugar that my Mum liked for her tea.
I was reminded this morning of that when I found those few crystals, I recall being about nine years old, getting up after my mother went to bed so I could surprise her in the morning with the table set. As young as I was something prompted me to climb up on the counter to reach a cupboard that was high up, for a little girl. Opening the cupboard there wasn’t anything unusual, a few cups and saucers but that wasn’t good enough for me, I searched to the far end of the cupboard and there is was, A SUGAR BOWL.
I held it in my hand and when I lifted the cover I saw it, the rare and priceless sugar. To express the joy I felt just can’t be properly put into words; happiness filled my young heart. Excitement surged through me as I put the sugar bowl on the table at my mothers place. Happily I tiptoed back to bed, barely able to get to sleep as I didn’t want to miss my mothers Surprise when she sat down for that very early morning breakfast cup of tea. Mum was thrilled and said it was the best cup of tea she had tasted in months. Saccharin tablets just didn’t replace sugar.
I’m grateful my usually filled to the brim Sugar Bowl was near empty this morning or all those endearing memories of a time long ago might not have flooded over me. – D. Daigle 2010
