One of my favorite memories from this past holiday season happened less than two weeks ago. On the day after New Year’s my brother Bubba taught my oldest, Aub, how to make Maemae’s biscuits.
She even stood on a stool beside him, just like she used to with her Maemae.
Bubba told us the story of how he learned. Years ago he went to Mama in the kitchen and told her he’d like to learn how to make her biscuits. She said, “Well, go ask your Daddy. He taught me how to make them.”
So he went and found Daddy. He made his request of Daddy, who asked him if he knew what the ingredients were. Bubba replied, “Buttermilk, flour, and shortening.”
Daddy nodded.
Then he shared the most important part of biscuit making there is.
“The thing you need to know, the secret to making biscuits, is to remember that any biscuit is better than no biscuits at all. Because you are going to make some bad ones. It will happen, before you can get good at it. But any biscuit is better than none.” Daddy paused for a second. “Now go on in the kitchen and let your Mama show you how to make them.”
And so he did.
Bubba was known for his cathead biscuits when he was in college. Apparently grad school too, as his sweet wife whom he met there shared that she might have had her head turned by his biscuit making abilities.
I don’t blame her.
That boy can flat out make some biscuits.
Well, now.
It wasn’t always the case, but remember, any biscuit is better than…..
well, you know. It’s the secret to making biscuits. But let’s keep it amongst ourselves, shall we?
Tonight I’m thankful for the passing along of this family legacy–the biscuit making. I’m thankful for a brother who makes time to share the stories and the gifts that he was given, and I’m thankful for our time together over the holidays. It was far too short and more precious than all the gold or winning that big ol’ jackpot folks keep talking about right now.
Family, stories, and biscuits. It’s hard to have a bad day when you’ve got all three of those treasures.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 