With good fortune one reaches that certain age where their kids are grown and creating lives of their own. Ours are educated and passionate about their career choices. Blazing their trails as they say. Both my husband and I are grateful and very proud of our children’s achievements. That said, post child rearing is a big transition in life. Ours have been launched for awhile now but it hasn’t really sunk in until recently, that my husband and I have completed our big climb.

We’ve raised our family, they have flown the coup, and we have moved into the next phase of life. Last spring we made an out of state move, returning to the Oregon Coast where we first met. My husband retired from his 35 year career as a University Professor and Marine Lab Director, now working in his second career as a Sci-fi writer with an international fan club reaching as far away as the country of Chile. I’m in what I believe is my last post as a Museum Executive Director finishing a 32+ year career. Although we are both still working hard, we recognize that it’s our grown children and their colleagues who are beginning to take center stage. It’s the natural cycle of life but nevertheless a wild reality that I am trying to wrap my head around. Our four parents have all passed. WE have become the elders.

Once your family job is done and your children take command of their own steering wheel, the remaining ties that bind (besides blood relation and love) are family traditions. Traditions that bring forth so many wonderful memories of family, love and laughter. Food is a big part of these traditions and my memories. Comfort foods. I suspect most families have recipes that they associate with the holidays and incorporate them into their family traditions. Either handmade or purchased.

When I was four years old, my father’s job took us across the country, isolating us from the majority of his family. Every Christmas thereafter my paternal grandmother would spend time baking and mail to our family a big box of assorted homemade holiday cookies. Layers of love between sheets of wax paper. We anxiously awaited this gift. Some of the recipes were cookies my father grew up on. His personal favorite and highly coveted cookie: ice box cookies. A crunchy shortbread type cookie with finely chopped nuts incorporated into the dough. After our grandmother stopped, my sister Shirley carried on with the tradition, mailing cookies to family for a number of years.

On my maternal Ukrainian side, my grandmother and my mother taught us to make pierogi and stuffed cabbage. We were taught to appreciate great Jewish rye bread, polish sausage and sauerkraut as side dishes. While our kids were growing up my sisters and I would bring our families together to make these dishes. We wanted our children to learn and appreciate the tradition. This brought our mother great joy. It was also a great excuse to get together and make something with our hands. Playing with dough is one of life’s greatest tactile experiences. It’s one of the reasons I also like to make, pie. If you haven’t tried it, your missing out!

For Christmas this year I have made Peanut Blossom cookies, a tradition from my paternal side, and stuffed cabbage and pierogis from my maternal Ukrainian side. Bringing comfort foods and memories to our household. This year for the first time Brian and I are spending Christmas alone in the house with our dog Baxter. Our daughter is enjoying a planned trip out of the country. Winter wind and ice storms created havoc with the airlines and road travel. Our son diligently tried to make it home for Christmas, his flights cancelled two days in a row. Tradition and memories will have to suffice. I bought Granny Smith apples to fulfill our sons request for apple pie and cranberries to make my sister’s Christmas pudding recipe. I haven’t yet decided whether or not to make either one. Yep, I’m looking forward to spring.

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. #2022xmas #pierogi #stuffedcabbage #Ukrainian #centraloregoncoast #perspectivesfrommytrail