Five minute free write - sugar bowl

My memories of grandma are really sparse.

I was pretty young when she passed. Mom has told me countless stories. How she came to the U.S. How she fought tooth and nail to make a living as a single mom. The late nights and early mornings. Endless work. She was tough as nails. But the things I remember about grandma are a bit different.

I can't remember if it was Christmas or Thanksgiving. Holidays with her always seemed to blend together. Of course I was young, so that probably didn't help. But, there were certain things that always happened, like playing your favorite song over and over.

I would sit on a tall stool feet hanging high above the floor.

My grandma would be on the other side getting everything together. The counter was wide. Made of wood but covered with this ugly white tile. She would pull out all these bowls, spoons, and whatnot, lining them up neatly in a row. Like soldiers going to war. A process she always followed.

The clinking...for some reason that stands out to me. The sound of metal on glass as she stirred the contents together. Water, flour, sugar, eggs, round and round the spoon went blending by hand. And the smells. Cinamon...I think that was her secret ingredient to the cookies, though she would never admit it. Her hands, so strong even though they looked so old.

It's weird the different details we remember from things long past.

---

First, just want to say that this is not an actual memory of mine. This piece draws on some memories I have of my grandma, but also a bit of my mother. Though, to be honest and up front, I can't remember my mom making cookies when I was young. But, it seemed like the kind of writing that went well with this prompt. Everyone always loves to remember those blissful times long passed that you can look through gold tinted lenses and smile at.

That's one of the cool things of being able to write

...to be able to create these special moments that may or may not have been, yet that everyone on some level can identify with. Writing is like alchemy, I think. You take all these base elements and try and change them into something else, something better, something different. Love, hate, fear, attraction, good bad, whatnot, ingredients in the 'cake.' The end flavor decided by what you want to blend, and how good you are at blending. You might not ever reach the pinnacle of the art, creating the philosophers stone, or lead into gold, but that's ok. Because writing isn't just for the audience.

Being able to write means being able to express shit that's going on in your own life that you need to get out, and make it so that other people can identify with and learn from it. Being able to write means being able to create mood and emotions in others that they wish to experience. Some out of desire, some out of need. Writing can be like magic, hehe. Used for good or for bad.

As always thank you @mariannewest for keeping this Five minute free write and as always this was written on The most dangerous writing app.

I'm off now to write some more stuff. So, hope you enjoyed this short warmup :)
Michael

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