Blueberry Jam Memories
Memories are great, unknown thing
inside us. I think back to my early years
very often because I like these days full of
happiness, freedom without any
responsibilities. I liked going to my
grandmother’s house which was hidden
in the middle of a forest. I spent all the
summer holidays there for several years.
There lived as well my godmother with
her children. One of my cousins was only
8 months older than me, so we
understood each other very well. We
could play all day. Of course we had
some duties which we hated. First of all
we had to feed the hens, goats and
rabbits and we had to milk a goat called
Balbina, but the worst was the cow. I
was afraid of the cow called Basia who
was big, fat and we had to take her to
pasture. However I can still feel the wet
grass under my feet, the smell of flowers
and when I close my eyes I hear the bird’s
singing and I am a little girl again. In the
garden we had an old tent, and we had
everything there, pans, plates and
flowers, and I remember my grandma’s
face when she discovered that we had
picked almost all the flowers in her
garden, where she spent a lot of time,
because she was preparing for the
summer competition. She was so angry.
But after a while her face was soft and
mild again and she used to say ‘Ok, as a
punishment you have to go to the forest
to pick blueberries’. I didn’t like it. But
when my granny made blueberry jam I
could feel the smell and taste of it. I
went to the forest with my daughter and
we made a blueberry jam as well, but I
don’t know if my granny added a secret
ingredient or the berries taste different in
nowadays, because my jam didn’t taste
the same although I made it with recipe.
Now we live in a hurry and don’t have
time for a brake, we have forgotten that
nature is the best for our health and we
spend our holidays in luxury hotels and
crowded places. Our children don’t have
the opportunity to spend time in a clear
and natural environment. We can’t let
them go out alone because everywhere is
dangerous. I miss the days when I was
outside from the early morning to late
evening, eating packed lunches and fruits
from a neighbour’s garden. I think that
childhood is the most unforgettable, the
sweetest, and the happiest of days. I
would like my daughter to say the same
when she is an adult. I’ll try doing my
best for her, to have beautiful memories.