Grandma’s cookies: a holiday tradition

Decorating Christmas cookies is one of my very best holiday memories. You know the kind – those big, white sugar cookies with gobs of frosting that are topped with colored "sprinkles."

More than one column has been written about those famous cookies that both my daughters-in-law accurately describe as "frosting holders."

As we have for many years, decorating cookies was part of the routine at our family Christmas last weekend. Frosting and sprinkles ended up decorating a good share of the table and floor along with the cookies, and more than a few cookies vanished somewhere between the hands of the decorators and the waiting plates – that’s all part of the decorating experience, of course. It’s what memories are made of.

While this year’s decorating extravaganza was fun as always, it did contain an element of sadness. For the first time in as long as I can remember, my mom, Marcella Kloeckner, was not able to lend her own, special touch to the cookies she once loved to bake and decorate.

In hindsight, I suppose we knew last Christmas that it could very well be the final time she would be able to take part in the family tradition. Perhaps we should have been prepared for the sadness that was created by her absence this year.

We were not.

Maybe we never will be – who knows?

We can take some comfort, I suppose, in the fact that she thoroughly enjoyed eating the cookies that several of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren delivered later that day to her room at Hazel Findlay Country Manor. She tapped her toes and clapped her hands while the kids sang a spirited rendition of Jingle Bells – as only a two- and three-year-old can.

At some level, she may even have understood for a moment that they were, in fact, her family.

It’s impossible to know what goes through her mind – not that it really matters.

What is most important is that for a time she was happy and content. That’s good enough.

On behalf of my brother and sister, thanks to everyone who sent a Christmas card to my mom or stopped at the Manor in recent weeks to visit her. Your kindness is much appreciated.

For those friends who may be thinking about visiting but have not done so yet – please do. She may not recognize you or know your name, but she will enjoy your company – she still loves to talk.

And, if she offers you a Christmas cookie, take it.