Bean Roll-ups

FABLES FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN
READING TIME: 1 minute

I hate to reveal my cooking secrets, but you’re family, so I will. When I was a young mother, one of Maggie and Mollie’s favorite meals was bean roll-ups. They are really tricky to make. You open a can of refried beans, spread on a tortilla, roll, and heat in the microwave. A little melty nacho cheese for dipping and those little senoritas were in heaven. They thought this was the fanciest meal ever.

I haven’t thought about that for years, until today.

I made bean roll-ups for Paw. We have them a couple times a year when there’s leftover refried beans. I took my first bite, then the memory of my little girls around the kitchen table overtook me, and I started to well up with tears like grannies do.  

People say you should look around and take stock of your blessings, that it will give you a grateful heart. I think that is wise advice, but, for me, it also works when I look around at what’s missing. Like an empty table at Thanksgiving. Or a fridge devoid of the art of children. Our new patio where that big tree with the swing used to be. It might make you cry, and it might even smell like beans, but looking at what isn’t there anymore makes you remember everything will be gone someday. It makes us cherish all those people and things that make our life so beautiful. 

As I look around right now, I’m missing you and feeling grateful.

I love you,
Granny

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