This spoon was darkened with tarnish when I received it.
Though silverplate and not sterling, it holds the value of sterling in my mind. This simple sugar spoon belonged to my mother-in-law.
As I removed the tarnish, I thought of all the people who had held this spoon in their hands through the years.
Many years of use... always beautiful and delicate.

I can never remember entering her home and not being fed.
There were always homemade cookies (she made a large batch of chocolate chip cookies EVERY week), pies, cakes and puddings.
On Sundays you could count on a big pot of meatballs simmering in sauce.
She would brew a pot of coffee or a cup of tea and we would sit at the table and talk and partake of the goodies.
This is how she showed her love to her family. It was a part of who she was.
And we would use this spoon to sweeten our coffee or tea.

If that spoon could talk, it would tell stories of life: the good times and the bad... accomplishments and disappointments... birth and death... laughter and tears.

And today, as we pass the sugar and sweeten our coffee... we remember.
We remember my father-in-law's stories... he is no longer with us.
And we will remember Jennie... she just died at the age of 93.

Life will go on but it will never be the same.
Sharing food at the table with those you love, to my mind, is the epitome of love and that is why I include this remembrance here.

Take the time to appreciate the simple things in life... like Jennie's sugar spoon, and the beautiful memories of a special time in our lives.

With love... may you rest in peace...