The Bowl

At first glance you might be wondering how much does this bowl cost and how much did Nina pay for it? Or you might be thinking that Nina is about to tell you the wonderful dessert she made in this bowl and how you totally need to get one too! However, today I am going to tell you the meaning behind this bowl and how it led me to tears the other day.  You see, not too long ago, I used to work in the classroom and my mother used to take care of my children all day. She was amazing! She would arrive at my house at 6:30am and I would head off to school. Then I had the second child and went part time and she would come everyday around 11:30 and watch my two kids for the afternoon. I used to love the weekends during this time as my mother would take me shopping with the kids. Even though she had them all day every day, she still wanted to hang out with them. She loves her grand babies. I remember one particular Saturday afternoon when we went out to Old Town Clovis. It's a street downtown with lots of mom & pop shops. We went to our favorite that day, a gift shop opened by a retired couple. I loved everything in there! But there was this bowl in the back that was a part of a collection that Martha Stewart had on her show that week. I so wanted the collection! But it was too much. My mother so gently whispered, "hey, I'll buy you one and every month we'll come back and add to the collection." I took her up on her offer and life continued. Five years and four kids later, I only have this one bowl. My mother began suffering from Dementia and she doesn't watch my kids anymore. I don't work anymore (outside of the home that is). And now my sister and I take care of her. I pulled this bowl out the other day as I normally do, and remembered this moment in life and tears filled up my eyes as they are now. My mother is physically with us, but SHE is not here. The kids get too loud for her, baking and cooking is too difficult a task. Folding laundry (which she ALWAYS helped me do) is something she cannot do. I miss my mother, the way she loved life and everything in it. This is a horrible disease and I pray one day they figure out a cure. But for now, I will continue baking with my very special bowl and one day look up the collection and make it a part of my kitchen. Enjoy this Christmas and all your loved ones.