The Bowl

My mother recently moved into an assisted living facility. She is very happy there and the move went well...as well as moves can go. She didn't want to take many things with her. I guess at this time of her life it was a good idea to downsize, clear the clutter (although she had very little clutter), give things that are dear to her to the people who are dear to her. One of the things she wanted me to have was the bowl.

As far as I know, my grandmother had the bowl first. The bowl was used in the preparation of most every meal. It is after all a great size and shape for mixing things up! My grandmother had 10 children so the bowl was used a lot! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for more years than I can imagine cooking for that many people. Just think after they all married and had children of their own...our reunions were huge...and the bowl was always there...ready for duty.

My mother was the youngest girl...there were nine girls and one boy! I guess that's the reason my grandmother gave her the bowl...although I'm not really sure. I can't remember my mother using the bowl that much, if at all, when I was growing up. Things had changed...everyone wanted something new and modern. The bowl had a home on a high shelf in a little used part of the kitchen cabinets. It gathered dust for many years. For some unknown reason though, my mother moved the bowl with her each time she moved...and that was several times. Never used but always available...that was the status of the bowl.

Now the bowl is mine. I've thought a lot about it's life (strange but true). I really like the way it looks and it's shape is very functional, but what I like the most is the part it played in my family's history. I've decided to return it to active duty. The bowl will once again be used to mix things up. Good things for my family to enjoy. I know my grandmother would approve. After all, she was a great cook who spent half her life in the kitchen with the bowl!