Oyster Stew!

I don’t think I can let December pass by without at least mentioning my grandparents.

Ten years ago on December 4th my mom’s dad lost his battle with cancer. I was sad to lose my grandpa, but he had been sick for a while and we had been talking on the phone and had pretty much said our goodbyes, so it was time and it was kind-of okay. 

The next day, the 5th, my dad’s mom died, too. She also died from cancer, but she’d been in remission and recovering so it was something of a surprise. I was very, very close to my Grandma Ruth. It’s hard to express the devastation her being gone caused. Not just for me, of course. She was one of those bigger-than-life people who draw you to them. I miss her today as much as when she left, though the ache of it has eased a bit.

The reason I’m writing about it is so I can tell you about her annual Oyster Stew Party and how I got a little taste of Christmas Past.

Throughout most of my childhood, I spent Christmas vacations with my dad at my Grandma’s house in Lake Tahoe. Every year she would have a big party on Christmas Eve featuring my Grandpa Bill’s Oyster Stew. My grandpa only really cooked two things: creamed chipped beef and oyster stew. But, those two things he did really well. The oysters would simmer in cream and milk and spices all day before the party. I was delicious and was a tradition that helped make Christmas.

So, needless to say, with her gone her party didn’t happen. As a matter of fact, for the most part Christmas didn’t really happen for a couple years. So, I hadn’t been to a Christmas party in quite some time. When, through no fault of my own, I ended up going to a Christmas party and also having oyster stew the same night. The dance studio where I was taking lessons had a Christmas party which we attended. It was glittery and festive and fun just as it should have been. When it was over, we went across the street to stop in at the Vet’s Club for a bit so my husband could say hi to his friends there. We didn’t know it, but they were having an oyster stew dinner night. How’s that for serendipity?

It helped me to get back a little of my Christmas Spirit which I had been missing. So here’s hoping that you and yours have your oysters, too.

Happy Holidays to You

from

Grandma and Me