I spent some time with a 3-year-old girl yesterday. Blond. And so adorable. She had me giggling (to myself) during our entire visit in our sometimes very insightful conversations. While trying to walk against the wind back to my truck, she squeals and hollers, "AlaPAA!" I was so delighted that I laughed out loud and it opened a tunnel to a great memory from childhood. (I love it when that happens.)
One of my best friends in childhood was blond. Swedish. Eats lefse and dressed as Saint Lucia at Christmas and everything. Well, she would often spend time with me at my grandma's house. And always, a snack at my gram's was fresh homemade bread. Delicious. And served...with lard. Really, vegetable shortening, but lard was what we called it. And while I try to stay away from shortening today, back then I had no clue butter was the usual spread for fresh bread. Lard was a perfectly acceptable option...and actually, sometimes preferred.
Well, my very beautiful blond friend went to spend time with HER grandma. In Seattle. Her grandma gave her a slice of bread for a snack and my friend asks, "Do you have any lard?" Her grandmother did not give her lard. But to this day, this story makes me and my family so delighted we laugh out loud.
