My pap always made eggnog every Christmas. He made two huge bowls full. One for the kids, and one for the adults. The adult mix had a little extra “kick” in it that the kids weren’t allowed to have.
In my memory, I see pap out in the kitchen, with a towel wrapped around his waste. He has half gallons of vanilla ice cream sitting on the counter, along with vanilla extract, a few dozen eggs, the sugar tin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a few gallons of whole milk. We all loved it when Pap made eggnog. We’d all gather around the kitchen table just to watch. Once in a while, he’d let us add the milk or a few tablespoons of vanilla, or a few cups of sugar.
When pap made eggnog, it was a grand production. Most of the charm was the man who made it. He was entertaining. He had a great sense of humor. Everyone loved to be with him. He loved life, he loved people....he simply LOVED. And he had a hearty laugh.
After he made his concoction, it was time for the tasting. It was almost like a religious experience. We’d all gather around with a small cup. He’d dip his larger cup into the bowl and then pour a little into each of our cups to have a taste. He’d then taste it to see what more it needed. Then he’d go on to doctor it up a little more until he’d finally be satisfied with a perfect sip. Then he’d call it done.
At that moment, all the adults and the rest of the children would file in the kitchen to get their first official draught of eggnog for the holiday season. Often, there would be a toast to family or such, and down the hatch it would go. What fun times.
Pap is gone, but the eggnog tradition lives on. All the cousins who happen to get together for Christmas will make the “family recipe.” Now we can all have that little extra “kick” in ours. We all watched it being made so many times, the ingredients are written in our minds. Our pallets had tasted the “perfect batch” enough times that we know what to add to make it just right.
It’s fun to see the great grandchildren come to love this tradition as much as we did. They are also getting to taste a perfect batch. The perfect recipe is being written on their minds as they watch the preparations and taste the perfect sip. They are being inducted into the family tradition. Traditions are bonds that keep a family in tact. Traditions set us apart and make us unique.
