(originally written April 2010)
Tiger Tails…
I can still picture it, though I’m not sure of the name of the place – its as clear as day in my memory. We visited the establishment (my dad, my sister and I) on a semi regular basis in the mornings, on our way to school.
When my sister and I were still very young my dad would get us ready for school on the days that my mom left for work early. Sometimes that meant we weren’t quite ready in time to eat breakfast at home. Two little girls can be complicated for dads – there is hair to brush, and tights to get on and so on and so forth… We knew we were in for a treat when we came into the kitchen if my dad was putting the cereal bowls back into the cupboard.
Tiger tails were in our future.
My dad would drive us to this little donut and coffee shop on the way to school – My memory wants to call it “Mister Donut”? We would go in, enveloped in a haze of smoke mingled with the aroma of strong coffee and pick out our breakfast. Every time my sister and I would get a tiger tail. This was a long, braided sort of donut – of chocolate and white goodness, with a crisp glaze on the outside. They were wonderful, usually fresh and would melt in your mouth. I don’t ever remember picking anything else. not once.
Because of my life as I know it now, I can sincerely appreciate my mom’s diligence in putting out those cereal bowls every morning. But cereal is not as memorable as a tiger tail.
There are so many little memories like this that I share only with my family. Good ones and bad ones. There are only three people on earth who have known me from the beginning, close and personal, seeing all kinds of ups and downs. God has been good to me, to place me with the family I have grown up with. But, It hasn’t always been easy.
Not so long ago, in fact it was difficult. Circumstances grew very complicated and we were divided. When I think back on it now, I’m not sure how I survived. There were many days where I would look back on a few of those sweet memories and I thought I would die – The separation hurt terribly and I wondered : would I have a chance to make any more memories? My heart felt swollen and bruised. That’s all I really want to say about it, because I don’t wish to hold onto any of the bad – only the good.
One thing I do know. I wasn’t really alone. Even in those dark moments that were filled with tears, heart ache and confusion, there was someone there. I experienced His presence and affection in the deep void of my heart, where I had known love. He was there as my family when I needed it the most. It was confirmation of Scripture: There really is a friend who is closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24)
I carry the love of a fresh donut with me even to this day – or maybe its just the precious tiger tail memory that I love. Soon my family will be meeting with my sister’s family and my parents for a vacation at the beach. (Secretly I’ve been wondering if they have tiger tails there!) No matter! I am prepared to make many new memories that we will cherish for years to come.
Thank you Lord, for my family. and for being a part of that family.
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