by UnknownMami on August 11, 2011
Do you think it’s possible to soak up history? To learn things with your body instead of your mind? To get a sense of where you come from even when you are so young that you probably won’t remember?
I hope so. I really do because my daughters are so young that they will not get to know some of the beautiful people that I grew up with. Today my daughters got to meet my tias. My wonderful tias. Each one of them is special to me. One tia taught me how to play conquian, another tia took me on road trips when I was little, another tia still spoils me with delicious home cooked meals. Unfortunately one of my tias was missing because she is no longer alive, but I hope my daughters sense her in my touch or hear her in my laugh.
My tias are no longer young. The oldest is 85 and it is quite possible that this is the last time I will ever see her. I held her in my arms and told her that I love her, but more importantly she held my youngest in her arms and loved her. Loved her for no other reason than that she is family.
So please let it be true that we can soak up history, that our bodies will have memories that our minds can’t hold, that we will feel the touch of our loved ones long after they are gone. Please let it be true.
by UnknownMami on June 24, 2009
Have you ever pondered the history of the Jelly Bean?
Neither had I until I received a package of them from Erin at Blogging is for dorks. You see Erin is cleaning out her home and selling a bunch of stuff, but she had a big bag of random crap that she was willing to distribute to her blogger buddies in exchange for a post about the aforementioned junk.
Hey, it’s hard coming up with posts so I was game. My junk arrived today and when I opened the envelope there was a small package of Jelly Beans which got me to thinking, “What’s up with the Jelly Bean?”
The origin of the Jelly Bean can be traced back to biblical times via it’s soft gummy interior which is a derivative of Turkish Delight; whereas the outside is pretty much the same as the shell on Jordan Almonds and achieved through a process know as panning.
Jelly Bean Trivia:
* Fans would throw jelly beans onstage at Beatles concerts.
* Ronald Reagan kept a jar of Jell Belly jelly beans on his desk when he was president.
* Jelly Beans were the first candy to be sold by weight, making them the first “bulk” candy.
* Because of their egg-like shape jelly beans became associated with Easter in the 1930′s.
So that’s what’s up with the Jelly Bean. Who knew it had such a long and storied past? Thank you Erin for helping me uncover the history of this confectionery legume.
