Maxwell Mornings

"Maxwell Mornings"

I normally save my blogging for Sunday mornings, but this 18 degree Winter morning seemed so fitting to relive the Maxwell Mornings on Granny’s porch. I’ve been blessed to have some wonderful grand and great grandmothers in my life. One grandmother in particular comes to mind: my maternal grandmother, affectionately known to us as “Granny”. What a dear soul she was!

A Southern Baptist women through and through, with her hand on the gospel plough and no turning back, was her make-up and spirit. I believe she instilled some of that into us also, amongst other values and ethics. Granny was an early to bed, early to rise women, born and raised in the South, Cuba to be more specific. Alabama that is! All the years I knew her she was always busy making her home comfortable for her adult children and her grand and great grandchildren. One would have imagined Granny to be a drill sergeant, because her morning started before the crack of dawn, with a list of chores that I’m certain she mediated on during the night, while keeping kut’in pistola close by. You know what I mean! But us New York city slickers, dawn was considered blasphemous hours to anyone, even school age kids.

The kettle would whistle, signifying the start of a new morning at Granny’s house. She would have the heavy-weighted, white bowls , and matching saucers trimmed in black or green, already for our morning brew: Maxwell House was on its way! She’d mix it with plenty of sugar love, creamer, making it more palatable for our young taste buds, and pour it into a our respective bowls, lined with Premium saltine crackers. And it was on her front or side porch, we’d watch the morning come alive, as the sun made its way over the horizon. Often times not a word was spoken, but much was said; start your day off with the Lord; start your day off with something warm in your stomach; and start your day off with family. These were her unspoken words. I dare not say what mine were! But I soon learned why Maxwell House was given the most befitting slogan “good to the last drop”. Because truly it was, but I know it was our morning time together that was good to the last drop.

In honour of you, I have my saltines aside my saucer, but it’s an earl grey tea, heavy cream, in a cup instead. I’ve matured and so have my taste buds, but my love for you remains the same. Missing those Maxwell mornings with you today Granny!

~Simply Dana

© 4JAN2012