A Bite of Laney

I had a very unusual relationship with my Bubbe. I am sure it reflects similar memories of time spent with your Bubbe. She lived in Cape Cod and had a large house where visitors would stay in an inexpensive clean room with meals for a lot less money than the hotels. She took care of me for the summers. My parents owned several restuarants which were opened seven days a week. It was difficult for them to make the five hour ride to the Cape to visit. So at the age of 10, I was spending the summers with Bubbe and helped with the guests however needed. She taught me how to bake, how to play canasta and how to laugh. A lot of sentences started out in English but always ended in Yiddish. I would say, ‘’ I don’t speak Yiddish Bubbe”, but it didn’t stop her. She taught me a lot but the best thing was how to live in the gentleness which surrounded her. This was the hardest. And the most beautiful of all. Snow white hair silky and so soft. She almost came up to my eyebrows. Not quite. I can count on one hand the number of times I saw her wear real shoes. Her slippers had about two hundred miles on them! She walked out of Russia with so little education but she knew so much about almost everything. Schnapps and homemade elderberry wine were two of her weaknesses. She had a huge dog (at least standing next to her!) Snuffy. She cared for that dog like it was one of her sons. She cooked meals for him, sat him down at the dining room table and fed him with a fork! She would let him sit on her lap (she disappeared from view) it looked like Fluffy was talking. She was the warmest, most loving woman who was such a tough cookie. Enough nostalgia for now. This is just a prelude to what’s coming your way! In the mean time think over some of your memories and favorites with your Bubbe. We want to hear them. Talk to you next week…bye for now.

#BitofLaney