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Friday, December 11, 2009

Something's Melting in My Mouth



Baking Christmas Cookies


Gingerbread
Hot sugar
Chocolate melting in the pan.

Baking soda tang
Butterscotch smooth
Heat rising from the oven.

Batter in a bowl
Flour poofing
Stirring soft butter with a spoon.

The last time
you took pleasure
in these textures
was before you shattered.

Now they pierce
the pieces of your heart
with fine small stitches
one at a time.

*************************
Many thanks to Poetikat (http://hyggedigter.blogspot.com/) for passing this award on to me, intending that I should reveal "7 Things You Don't Know About Me."


Hmmm.

1. I once had to sing, "I'm a little teapot, short and stout," in a third-grade school play. I despised having to sing and dance that little tune, because I am short and (now) stout. It has plagued me all these years.

2. I have anxiety attacks pretty regularly, for which I take...nothing! I practice my sobriety tools, like prayer and breathing, and putting one foot in front of the other. The tools get me through it in a sane state.

3. My first name is Diana. It was penciled in on the birth certificate at the last minute because (I was told by my mother) some nurse said I had to have three names, not just two. My real name is Chris. Just Chris. I spent my educational life explaining to the teachers and classmates on the first day of class that my name is just Chris, and it traumatized me like that stupid teapot did.


4. I took my bachelor's degree in English Literature, and went right to work in Los Angeles for the skin-trade, as we called it. I have worked on magazines for both Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt. My job for seven years was to make sure all the editorial was grammatically correct. Believe it or not.


5. I've cooked the family meals from the time I was 13 years old until I was almost 50. Then my newly retired husband went to culinary school, and I've been saved from cooking dinner for nearly five years. A gift, I tell you!


6. I've been blogging since September, and now I'm addicted. Not a day goes by that I'm not in the blogland. Well, I missed some in October while I was away.

7. My favorite Christmas cookies are what we call "snowballs" made with flour, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar. My daughter insists that we bake them every year. They make a mess when you pop one in your mouth, but then they practically melt. Ah, sugar.


I'm passing this award on to our friend Jenn at http://stillorinshelp.blogspot.com/
Gingerbread photo by Mellors Ltd.

25 comments:

Alan Burnett said...

Fine poem and splendid seven facts. I have to do one and I am in need of inspiration. Thanks for sharing yours.

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh, a mouth-watering 55, the cookies look delicious! Congrats on the award too, much deserved, you special one!

Mine is posted now! Love ya Chris~

the walking man said...

Good porn has to be edited in order to be good porn. Someone had to get paid to do it, why not thee?

You have made me hungry Just Chris...and I am a diabetic too...good thing I have plenty of insulin about the house!

inappropriatesue said...

I love the imagery you baked up in this. Just beautiful. Although, I'm picturing someone chasing an uncatchable gingerbread man now...LOL

I'm up too.
http://inappropriatesue.blogspot.com/2009/12/55-flash-fiction-friday-mercury-and.html

Nikki (Sarah) said...

the last words such a contrast to the sweetness. Take gentle care. Sarah

Kat Mortensen said...

Isn't it just amazing how taste sensations can take you right back (be it good or ill). I swear, 99% of my memories are connected to food! (Just ask my mom.)

The skin-trade, huh? Wow! I was in publishing for a year in my early 30s, but I hated the environment and couldn't get out fast enough.

I'm soooo glad you got into blogging, "Just" Chris, otherwise I'd never have been exposed to your wonderful works of word-art.

Tall Kay said...

Your poem made me smile. My favorite line was butterscotch smooch! Ya know, I had to do the little teapot on a stage once too. I was a ham, even in kindergarten, and I loved the experience! My grandson and I would perform it together! Hey...we could do it together too! LOL

One Prayer Girl said...

I loved your poem. I could practically taste the cookies. I was intrigued by your seven things - especially being able to move through anxiety without medication.

Congratulations on your award.

PG

Dianne said...

I'm glad your daughter has good memories of those cookies. I do too.

As we miss our mothers during the holidays, we learn to mother eachother.
Your husband seen the film Babette's Feast? I can't eat a gourmet meal without thinking of it.

big Jenn said...

My first name is Mary but my family never called me that. My middle name is Jennifer and try getting the nuns in catholic school to not be politically correct, they finally gave up.
I love your poem. I can relate. jeNN

Brian Miller said...

lovely poem...i love christmas cookies! some more interesting facts...i have little tea pot issues as it was used as a form of punishment...had a sever panic attack once...helped me get sober...congrats on the well deserved award!

Lou said...

My name is one of those people just can't get right, so I stick with "Lou."
When I first started blogging, I left a comment on a woman's blog. Her husband read it, and thought I was a man. He went crazy, and responded with a long, jealous rant.
I thought you might appreciate that story "Chris."

Susan said...

so glad you're addicted to blogging, 'cause I love your blog!!!

Nessa said...

Those are all very interesting facts about you. I love the fact that my husband cooks dinner. That's a real joy.

Flash Dancing

Alice Audrey said...

The kitchen is a great place to mend a heart and/or a family.

Enchanted Oak said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
G-Man said...

When I change this to Friday Flash 59 I'll let you know OK?

Other than that...
I'm Hungry
I'm Thankful to you..
And I'm outta here

Have a Great Weekend Chris....G

Monkey Man said...

Dang work got in the way of being able to keep up with 55's today. Loved the cookie poem. I know you've already seen mine. Thanks.

Tabitha.Montgomery said...

I just love coming to visit your blog,Enchanted.You always have something for everyone here to enjoy reading.

Ok.I'm going down your list so get ready...

1.K.That is just priceless,can you sing it again for your blogger peeps?

2.Ditto.My anxiety is so low key now for me because I adopted 2 books with the 12 steps in the back as part of my custom recovery from codependency,grief..and more.

3.Interesting..I love stories about peoples names.I am going to keep calling you,Chris aka,Enchanted.

4.I believe it.

5.Seriously.Your husband kicks ass!

6.Yep.It can only be understood by those who try it.So glad you did :)

7.YUM.

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

First, thank you for dropping by my 55 -- because that way, I found your post tonight, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I also was subjected to singing "I'm a little teapot..." in the first grade. Somehow, though, I loved it. That was in the days when they took class pictures, besides the individual ones. I remember standing with my class, singing that song. ♥

Rosaria Williams said...

Ah, memes and awards have their uses. First, congratulations. Second, glad to see you are baking, constructing poetry and reflecting on the past.

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

I once had to sing that same song (with silly moves)in front of a crowd of onlookers to get out of the castle stockade at a renaissance festival.

Mike Golch said...

great poem. I also wanted to tell you that I have added you to mt blog roll of honor as well as following you.

steveroni said...

COOKIES! My favorite topic, right under HERSHEY BARS! Well, that took car of #7...

Blog-addiction, Yesss! For me, it has finally passed over from a time-consuming but enjoyable hobby--to a consuming obsession over which I have lost all power.
That was #6

And that's enough. Your blogs posts are worth waiting for, reading, commenting on, and so I thank YOU!

Syd said...

Good stuff Chris. The skin trade--that caught my eye. Glad that you are blogging and writing about skin and cookies.