If Objects Could Talk
I’m guessing someone woke up really early one day and said, “I’m going to bake the hell out of this batch of sugar cookies, and they are going to be majestic.”
I’m not naturally an early riser, but this morning I was. And now, while savoring a dreamy cup of coffee, I’m thinking way too much about a birthday cookie. It’s one of those bakery-made types … thicker than is attainable by my own kitchen skills, slathered with white icing and abundant sparkles, and wrapped securely in plastic.
It belongs to my son, who recently turned 20, and I have no idea where he got it. But it’s taunting me from behind a bunch of bananas, and I’m not gonna bite. However, I’m curious about its story.
There is a whole team behind this dolled up package of sugary goodness. I assume it includes a recipe creator, an ingredient-gatherer, plus some farmers, an oven-manufacturer, a decorator, and probably a small business owner who dreams up monthly promotions and worries about paying bills. I’m envisioning someone waking up early in the morning and thinking, “I’m going to bake the hell out of this batch, and they are going to be majestic.”
I see someone decorating or wrapping each one, and thoughtfully placing them on trays, or in a basket somewhere. And a cashier ringing up the sale, looking a customer in the eye and saying, “Enjoy!” or “Thank you for coming in today.”
Learning about people and their stories has always been one of my many passions. That plays out in everyday conversations or chance meetings with strangers. My dad used to tell me I asked too many questions. He’s not wrong. But it’s from a harmless place of perpetual inquisitiveness coupled with an insatiable desire to know more.
It also plays out when I’m on the road, whether it’s for vacations, business or just a weekend road trip. I find myself studying fellow drivers as I cruise by, realizing that every passenger has their own tales of loss, love, joy, tragedy, adventure and misfortune. Where are they going and why? What are their hopes and worries along the way?
Which all brings me back to the cookie. If objects could talk, oh, the stories they could tell. About the people who created or designed them, those who helped produce or manufacture them, and all those who purchased them for a myriad of reasons. There would be accounts of pain and sweat, love and care in designing the fabric we wear or hang on our walls, and the gadgets and tools that fill our drawers. Everything around us comes with history. I won’t ever know even a fraction of the details, but I can’t help but keep wondering. As for this delightful little sugar cookie hanging out in my fruit bowl, well okay, twist my arm. I’ll bite.
©2022 Michelle Freed