Sweets for the Sweet

Valentine’s Day always brings me sweet memories. One, it’s a holiday, two, it’s my birthday, and three, it reminds me there’s so many ways to show love.

One of my favorite childhood memories involved my mom, Ruth, making extra special treats for my elementary classroom. Being a working mom, she decided to make Valentine’s goodies after she got home from work. Following dinner she started whipping out her baking supplies including a mini heart-shaped pan. Once out of the oven and cooled, she began icing the 20-some cakes with pink confectioners’ sugar icing.

She left the cakes to set on the counter while she got ready for bed. After her nightly routine of making sure the front door was locked, and the coffee pot was set to brew in the morning, Mom turned to check the cakes. She was stunned to see the cakes had been eaten by our copper-coated Brittany Springer Spaniel, Penny! Remnants of icing, sugar and cake crumbs littered the counter and linoleum floor. 

Brittany was already lolling in her bed on the floor obviously feeling sickly. Knowing Dad would have to take Brittany to the vet in the morning, Mom pulled out the baking supplies again and worked until 1 a.m. to make another round of classroom cakes.

The melt-in-your-mouth cakes were a big hit with my teacher and classmates. They also loved the cakes’ creation story.

I treasure Mom’s creativity and her tenacity. But most of all, I loved her for how much she loved me and showed it in heartfelt ways.

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