People Die

The mother of one of my sons elementary school friends and classmates passed away this week.

So sad. So unexpected.

Food and funerals, now that brings some graphic images to mind.

When my mother died, my cousin brought over a honey baked ham. I was touched, grateful, it was the best ham I ever ate. It was a love ham. My mother died between Christmas and New Years. We continued to eat her Christmas cookies. It was surreal to eat cookies that my dead mother had recently baked while alive.

(Insert cookie press Christmas tree cookie recipe)

I silently said over and over, these are the last cookies I will ever eat that were made by my Mom.

My sweet, kookie cousin, younger sister of the above mentioned ham cousin, died two days before Thanksgiving. She became ill at the end of August at my birthday dinner. It became obvious early on that her disease was terminal. It never once stopped me from trying to “cure” her with food offerings.

Joanie’s Favorite Foods

(Insert list and recipes)

Food and funerals. The connection is obvious. Food brings comfort, comfort is needed. Covered dishes, casseroles, pound cakes. A sushi tray? My daughter’s idea of comfort.