As my feet hit the floor this morning, I knew what I had first and foremost on the agenda for the day. And that consisted of Banana Bread, period, end of conversation. Nothing was going to come between me and the taste of banana bread and coffee.

I wasn’t thinking about the bread pan I would be using. But, the bread pan turned out to be what has weighted heavy in my thoughts ever since I reached for it.

I haven’t used this particular pan yet, but it’s used. It came from my mother-in-law. But it was new to me as I inherited it from her before our move to NY. I still remember her checking to see what I got. She’d ask “did you get that cookbook or what about that.” She’d ask. She wanted to make sure her things were going to be cared for before her passing.

This pan moved from Texas to storage in NY while our home was being built. And I had pretty much forgotten about so many special little things that were in safe keeping.

So today, there in my kitchen, it was just ma and me. She was heavy on my mind from the time I reached for that pan and she was right there with me in my thoughts while I played house in my kitchen.

So as I looked at these burn marks on the bottom of the pan, a story she told came to mind.

She told the story of long ago when she baked bread. The bread she baked was so over baked to the point it was like a rock. And she told of how her sweet hubby tossed it outside and how it was carried off by the dog. Oh how she used to chuckle telling that story. I never did get to meet pa but I got glimpses of him through the stories that were told. And today, I heard her laugh again and I cried.

It made me wonder if this was not the bread pan she used. Was it? I wish I could ask her. This pan has untold stories all over the outside showing lots of wear. But I wouldn’t trade it for a brand spankin’ new pan for anything. It really grew on me today.

See ma?  The sides are all buttered up and another batch of bread is ready for the oven.

Fresh from the oven again.  Makes me wonder what you baked in here last ma.

My banana bread turned out so Mmmm, mmmmm good. Thank you ma for the pan! I prolly used too much butter on that warm slice but it added to the yumminess of the bread.

I’m left with some pretty amazing things from ma. But the memories are what make these precious things so valuable to me. I’m so blessed.