Appetizers

She used to hold court at the head of the kitchen table. We all sat around the table while she made her famous apple pie. She would let us all help out, or play with some of the leftover dough. She was never rushed or bothered by her children all about, or by my father. She would tease him about eating all of the apples, but he would kid her and say he was just eating the ones with the worms. I can remember the scene as if it were ten minutes ago. I always sat to her left so I could get a good view of her beautiful face. She would haul out the big cutting board my father made her and the tin measuring cups and the little sharp knife. And I can still call up the feelings. Excitement mostly. Knowing how beautiful it was going to look when it came out of the oven and how everyone would exclaim over it because it was always so good. It made her proud that she could do it so well and it made us love her even more.

Mary