I turn the pages of the old spiral notebook, reading the familiar recipes in my grandmother's shaky handwriting: Henry's Christmas Cookies, Sparta Buttermilk Griddle Cakes, and Icebox Rolls. I remember sitting at the big table in her Wisconsin kitchen, and I can still smell the steaming trays of cloverleaf dinner rolls coming out of the oven on Christmas Eve.
This chronicle of favorite family recipes is one of my most cherished possessions—especially now that my grandmother is gone. I feel a link to my past every time I turn those well-worn pages.
And that's why this holiday season I've decided to give my family presents that will evoke their own special recollections. These memory gifts are easy and fun to make
—they simply need to be something that connects us to the past and each other. For instance, my grandmother once gave my mother an afghan knitted with the yarn from my grandfather's school-letters sweater. No one would have worn the old cardigan, but we all snuggle up in the blanket from time to time and think of Grandpa. Another time, a cousin hunted down a book, long out of circulation, written by my other grandfather and presented it to me. The effort was special: the present was truly priceless.
You can create similar unique gifts for your own family and friends. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Use your imagination. For instance, if you have a young father to buy for, why not frame one of his children's paintings? Show a friend you care with a scented sachet made with flower petals from a wedding or anniversary bouquet. Give your daughter or niece a piece of family jewelry that you've had reset. Collect recipes from your extended family, and create your own cookbook.
Make a gift of treasured photos. Have copies made, and then put together a personalized album, complete with captions and dates. Frame a picture of a person's favorite place—her hometown, the spot where she spent a special vacation, the house she just bought. Or take a picture of the recipient swimming; golfing or doing something else he or she loves. One of my father's favorite presents was a photo I took of him reeling in a big fish in Alaska.
Likewise, pick up on motifs that relate to a person's past. For example, a hat with airplane patches pleased my father-in-law, who vividly recalls flying B-24 bombers during World War II. A tile cutting board with a willow-tree design was perfect for a friend who has fond childhood memories of climbing the tree in her backyard. And several friends have surprised my husband and me with African baskets or carvings that remind us of our Peace Corps days. A gift that reflects a person's signature interest—whether it's a college emblem, a favorite animal or a. hobby—is sure to be a great success.
