Out of the blue this morning, It dawned on me , that I have not made melt in your mouth Italian Shortbread Christmas cookies in years- 17 Years to be exact! !!! You might be asking . Tia, if they are your favorite - why haven't you made them for 17 Years???
Let me Explain.....
First, I Iove a Simple Shortbread Cookie, but not just any type - they melt in your mouth. I always had a friend who said that her shortbread recipe was the best and made exactly how it should be made with only 3 ingredients....But I would argue that my Italian Daddy made the best Christmas shortbread cookies and his had 4 ingredients ( 1 Secret Ingredient added that changed the entire shortbread addiction for me) but.... yes I still stand by my Dad's recipe....Hands down it's the best.
They are so good , and cherished to me that I am not sure I even want to share the recipe - And I will explain why . I Almost feel like that memories of making these with my Daddy on his very last Christmas with us, before he passed away 9 Days later, following that Christmas.
The holiday season 1999 is so sacred to me... I can literally feel the soft pillowy dough in my hands and seeing his eyes and smile sitting at the farm table in his wheel chair, favorite sweater on and his beannie hat with what seemed to be more flour on him, than in the bowl... And I, remember looking out the window of the farm house and seeing the soft snow falling , smelling the fireplace warmth. LISTENING intently to him as I had Everytime he taught me a new recipe or technique... You know those moments when it just feels like Christmas....
This was the first time Dad shared that cookie recipe with me. Eight months earlier, I brought him home to the Farm in Iowa from NY, with kidney failure, dialysis, and many other issues , he was terminally ill. All my life he was there for me. And I couldn't bear the thought of him going into a nursing home to live his last months- he deserved to spend it care free being loved and taken care of. I didn't hesitste to drive 24 hours non-stop and bring him back , take a leave of absence from work to take care of him. Not knowing how I would financially do it, but knew we would all be OK - Spirit will always guide me. I always loved those cookies as a child... I often wonder if he would have even shared that recipe that day, had his eye sight not really deteriated with macular degeneration in his last year, had he not "needed" my help!! And his sense of humor Saying .. " You know Dolly, your sure lucky this Christmas that I need your eyes to measure, you get the secret recipe " ... all with a chuckle..... But deep down I knew and, he knew that his time in his physical body was coming to an end- words unspoken, but eyes that locked to each other with a gentle reassuring smile from him - that he took that Christmas to pass down a childhood memory and recipe for me so I could always have a part of him with me, something to make me feel his pressence and a reminder he was and is always with me during the Holidays. It would be my last Holiday with any of my parents - and he knew.
Perhaps this morning having that memory flood in while making coffee, just days before Thanksgiving - that signifies the start of the holidays for me , was the nudge from my special angel saying - " I'm still here Dolly, I'm still here "
Sometimes when you need your Angels the most ( even though your not thinking you do) deep down on this universal energy level they know when to appear. So always know, your Angels visit in mysterious ways - even when your not asking ...
Tradition is to leave cookies out for Santa- but, maybe this year I'll make some special Christmas cookies and leave them out for our Angels and give thanks for them watching over us and the blessings they give to us.....
This Holiday Season , take time to reflect on the true meaning of family, friends. I will be giving thanks for all the many blessing upon us. Enjoy the magic of the season and make new memories - we all have the power of choice to create and be who we want to be and give kindness to others. Those memories will last a life time to someone , vs the wrapped gifts. Cherish the people in your life and time together- that's what's really priceless!!
Namaste ,
Tia Maria....
Tia Maria....
