Traditions

‘Tis the season for traditions. Most of us this week will focus on family traditions as we celebrate the Nativity or Hanukkah.

Traditions, in their richest and most positive form, provide physical and emotional markers of identity and memory. In families, they are touchstones of the bonds of love, togetherness, and joy that span generations. They unite families, joining one set of traditions with another in every new marriage. It may be comical and sometimes difficult to form up a new family’s traditions, but it is vital to do so. Traditions are incredibly important to the emotional and cognitive development of children, and aid their learning of the world beyond themselves.

I could make a point about how traditions are just as vital in organizations, but that’ll be another blog at another time…

What are the traditions you are looking forward to celebrate with your families this week?

I’d like to share one of my family’s traditions with you. It’s as simple as making pancakes.

My father-in-law, Bill Speight, was a gentle giant of a man. He was the only son of immigrant parents from England, so he was brought up in a very traditional and proper environment. Yet he was a BIG guy. He was a lineman for the Yale football team just prior to the outbreak of World War II, and served as an officer aboard a warship in the South Pacific during the war. He had a successful career as an engineer and operational manager for some of America’s mightiest industrial companies after the war. He had the great fortune to woo and win my mother-in-law, Marcie, and with her raised three incredibly wonderful kids, one of whom is my wife, Lauri. Bill passed away in 2001, but every Christmas, we celebrate his memory by making a big breakfast centered around his famous (in our circles) pancake and waffle recipe.

Even before Lauri and I were married, I recall Christmas mornings visiting the Speights, awakened by the glorious aromas of coffee brewing, bacon sizzling, and Bill downstairs very early preparing his feast for us. He loved to eat, so when he made breakfast, watch out! The kitchen was humming and my job was to get in there and help out, but not get in the way. Easier said than done!

Lauri and I received a stocking-stuffer gift from Bill on our first Christmas as a married couple–his recipe for those pancakes!

So, every Christmas since, our kids and we have enjoyed that perennial treat, straight from the heart of a gentleman who in one way is no longer is with us, and yet still is…

If you are looking for some tasty ‘cakes to share with your kids, you can’t go wrong with Bill’s recipe. Here it is:

2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons of baking powder

2 Tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of salt

2 dashes of cinnamon (to taste)

Mix those dry ingredients, and then add:

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups of milk

1/3 cup of oil

Mix gently, and cook ’em up on a griddle or waffle iron. ENJOY!

Got any great traditions you’d like to share? Comment back! I’d love to hear about them!

However you celebrate, look for the opportunities to build the bonds of love, peace, and joy through your own unique traditions!

From my family to yours, we hope you have a blessed week.