Traditions · 10 August 2007
When my parents come to town, my kids expect to get doughnuts sometime during their stay. That is because my dad has started a tradition. On at least one of the mornings when they are here, my dad goes down to Fresh and Fancy Doughnuts or one of the other places in town to get a dozen or so of the wonderful sugar bombs. The kids look forward to seeing their grandparents regardless of whether they get doughnuts or not. But if my parents have been here for more than a day or so, the boys wonder when the doughnuts will appear.
It seems that the tradition started in Poulsbo at my brother Scott’s house. One time when we were there, Zachary asked, “When are we going to get doughnuts, Grandpa?” My dad had taken Zachary to the bakery the previous time we were there and perhaps the time before that. Even though it had been a month or so between visits, Zachary remembered the doughnuts and wanted to make sure that he got some again. A tradition was born.
Zachary no longer gets up early enough to go to the bakery with my dad. He is a teenager and would sleep until noon even if he knew that half or more of the doughnuts would be gone by then. He cannot get himself up even to smell the fresh aroma of the freshly baked treats. But I am sure that it will be just a short time before either of the other boys starts to get up early enough to take that trip to get pastries. It is just a matter of time until they get to know the sweet smell of the doughnut shop.
I suppose that there are other less fattening traditions that my parents could establish with their grandkids. But food is a big part of our family and sharing that food is just a time to be together. I remember when I was a kid being at the dinner table with our whole family of six. We ate dinner together practically every night. Memories of those simple times together still occupy a large part of my fond memories. I remember the eating but more importantly, I remember just sitting around talking. I remember being a happy family that told stories and jokes and just shared life together.
I guess memories are what traditions are all about. We really just want to create memories rather than traditions but who knows what activity will become either. Just as we cannot choose what will be seen as quality time, we cannot choose what memories will be cherished or what repeated activities will become traditions. I just hope that my kids remember more about the times my parents are here than that we have a tradition of eating doughnuts together.
© 2007 Michael T. Miyoshi
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Published 02 August 2007 in The RiverCurrentNews
Published 07 August 2007 in The Monroe Monitor & Valley News
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