22 May 2008

Memories


So this little pile of chex mix brought back some really nice memories. It is officially called Muddy Buddies, and though I made it with the recipe off the back of the box, you can also find it here at the Chex website.

It brings back the memories of going to my Grandma's house up in small town Mentone, Indiana. For those who have never heard of it (which unless you are family probably includes you), it is a little town in central Indiana with a population of almost 1500 people, and only has a land mass of .6 square miles. Despite the small size though, Mentone "is the self-proclaimed 'Egg Basket of the Midwest' because of prolific commercial egg production in the area"
(There is a big concrete egg in the town square that we have many a picture of me standing in front of as I have grown up through the childhood years.) But I digress...

Anyways, it brings back the memories of going to my grandparents house, which was the typical country house, not with the country furnishings like in the magazines but the furnishings of a house that was kept super clean and in very good repair (with little wear and tear) even though nothing had been changed or remodeled since olive green and shag carpeting was in style. The dishwasher was never installed, and in the florescent pink basement was a second refrigerator, probably dating from my grandparents early adulthood, and a second freezer.... Anyways, I remember that my grandmother would always make this stuff when she knew us grand kids were coming to visit. (Knowing her though, she would actually make it weeks or months before our visit, along with all the other meals for our visit, and store it in the freezer downstairs in an old butter dish container with the date on it, so that she could rest up for us coming to visit.)

If you can't tell, I have many, many fond memories of going to my grandparents house in Mentone. So many that it is hard not to get sidetracked from one to the other. In fact, I don't think I have any bad memories of the place or those grandparents at all. The only thing I wish is that I could have been a little older before they were into all the health problems, so that I could have gotten to know them more. It is one of those things, where, if I could become more like anyone I have ever known, I would want to be the solid, Bible believing, family centered, small town individuals that they were. Yes, were. They passed away the Christmas when Mike and I were engaged. I can't complain though because I have never met anyone else that was so sure that Heaven exists and so unafraid of death as they were. I know too, that they are up in Heaven praying and cheering our family on, just like they did here on earth.

6 comments:

M said...

Oh and no, there isn't supposed to be any cheerios in it, but I was short on the chex cereal.

Joanna said...

Aahhhhhh. How sad and happy all at the same time. *sniff, sniff*

Joanna said...

And what's with the pink basement?

M said...

lol... It was one of those things you just remembered. I was told that it was painted that color by my biological Grandmother before she passed away and the grandma I knew never felt it was her place to repaint it after my grandfater married her. My guess is that the paint was originaly on sale so my biological grandma bought it and painted the basement....

Tina said...

looks yummy :-)
How great to have such solid grandparents as a role model.
Most all of my memories of my grandma growing up involve her yelling at us for having such dirty feet. She is still alive and is still the craziest person ever when it comes to feet.

Unknown said...

so, i just clicked on the mapquest link and holy smokes! is that in the Guinness book of world records as the smallest town ever? i imagine it's one of those towns where everyone knows everyone. i actually like the idea of that, sounds cozy.