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Look-Out World, I'm Baking Bread!

I am famous…for my bread. Since my earliest memories, my Mom baked really-good bread. And, she shared it -- a LOT of it. Everyone loved it. But growing-up, loving that bread, I dreamed of becoming “famous.” Not that “money-money-money, put me on TV, I’m so superior”-famous, I wanted to be known for something “important.” I was full of fire, dreaming of becoming president, astronaut or cancer-curing scientist. I wanted to “change the world.”

Now I’m mid-life, a career distant in my rear-view-mirror, busy with 3 kids & family. I sometimes wonder, “What if?” “What happened to that spit-fire little girl and energetic young woman? Did I let her down?” No, the dream remains…just differently. Somehow, sharing my bread, I’ve become “famous.” It’s not a compromise or pathetic waste of potential. It’s real, significant, and makes a difference. What is “famous” anyway? Perhaps “famous” can be making a difference, if only to a few.

I LOVE baking bread. Since age 9, I’ve loved cooking and baking. But, somewhere during the past 15 years, baking bread became more; it became a true passion. I rediscovered bread-baking. Then, I discovered King Arthur, and WOW!...My passion ignited: first artesian breads, then sweet-doughs, now pizzas, braids, pretzels…. My family claims I’m “famous” for my bread. My children’s friends eagerly ask, “Is your mom going to make pizza with us for your birthday party?” People ask if I’m going to bring “THAT bread” to the potluck. I win awards at the county fair. When I give bread, people light-up and say: “Oh, my favorite!” “Did you MAKE this?” “Oh, this bread reminds me of my childhood!” “I look forward to this every Christmas!” “This won’t make it home!”

While at a glance, I’m “just baking bread,” it is SO much more than that. It’s: “You’re worth my time and talents” … “Taste THIS!” …“Life IS good”. It’s a smell, a texture, a taste, a memory, a sensation, a total-body multi-sensory experience! I’m carrying on Mom’s tradition, sharing appreciation of really-good bread. I’m raising children who appreciate making and enjoying really-good bread. I’m passing the love of bread-making to others who can embrace it and pass it on as well. Like my Grandma told me many, many times through the years; “It is enough to eat and enjoy it too.” I always listened, but now I understand: Life’s essence…Sharing life, love and pleasure…Making a difference. With good bread, LIFE is good.

That little spit-fire KNEW she was going to be famous, she just didn’t know it was going to be for her bread! But, I still want to learn more, do more, give more, pass-on more. I still want to “change the world.” And, as I grow with knowledge and practical skills, I know I will: one loaf, one pizza, one batch of rolls, and one braid at a time. Look out world! I’m “famous,” but I’m not finished yet.

Tags: bread, bread-baking, famous, inspire, passion

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irishcoleen

Wow, I love the philosophy of this. It really touched me. Thanks for posting this.

sherylopfer

Thank you Irishcoleen for your kind words and for taking your time to give me feedback. Call it a mid-life “ah-haa moment” (not “crisis” – ha ha). The process, the memories, the giving, the enjoying....Baking is a warm connection to cherished loved-ones & experiences past, a loving embrace of the present, and a special imprint on the future. It’s so real, and so much more than simply physical sustenance. Thanks again for sharing the passion and for commenting. You made my day!

irishcoleen

My mother made bread every day of our lives. I passed this on to her and my siblings. I should have saved the comments for you. Everyone was as touched as I was. At the time it was a very ordinary thing but as I've grown older I see it very differently and you captured it beautifully. You made my day too! :)

Coleen

sherylopfer

Irishcoleen, I just HAD to reply. What fun it is to connect baking families who truly appreciate good bread...and everything else that goes along with it.

Again, you made my day, when I really needed a lift. And, I passed on YOUR comments to MY mom (who also loved the philosophy of my posting). When I told her of YOUR comments and how it touched you and your family, we reminisced about my mom's baking and my baking and grandma's baking, and we laughed and laughed about rolls at family reunions, cinnamon rolls for family breakfasts, lunchbox sandwiches made with homemade bread, the to-die-for cinnamon bread, and all the love and laughter round the bread on the family table.

AND, it all came at such a great time. Seven weeks ago I broke and severely sprained my right ankle while coaching my 10-year old daughter's soccer practice. No driving...really, no walking! I was so frustrated...it was a few days before my daughters birthday, and I hobbled around the kitchen on crutches and baked (to everyone's frustration)...classroom cupcakes, birthday cake.... A few days later it was my birthday (a humbling reminder that perhaps I shouldn't be playing soccer ha ha), then came Easter and for the first time in 14 years I did NOT bake-up a storm! I finally got permission to put weight on the boot-casted foot, and I tossed the crutches and baked bread!

Meanwhile, my 10-year-old got pneumonia and my 12-year old got a virus and ear-infection. Two more weeks of stress, frustration, health-anxiety...and, I baked bread. Comfort in the kneading, comfort in the smell, comfort in watching the family enjoy it.

Then came Mother's Day. I was reaching the end of my rope. So, I baked bread. I baked for my Mom. I baked for my in-laws. I baked for the school secretary. I baked for my oldest daughter's volleyball coaches. I baked for my neighbor who is a great mother. I baked for us. Really, I guess I hobbled around and baked through my frustration and into the joy of sharing and enjoying good bread.

My oldest daughter's 14th birthday came next, so I baked some more...cake, brownies for school, pizza bread for dinner....
And, then my 10-year-old who finally got back to school after two weeks got a virus and a double-ear infection, followed by an antibiotic reaction (are you kidding me?!!!!!). So, I baked. And, I reminded myself that life happens. And I reminded myself what my grandmother always said, "as long as we can eat and enjoy it too"...Life is good!

And, it makes me smile to know that somewhere out there is you and your family (and probably many other bakers too) who also relate to this simple truth. A couple of days ago I got the cast-boot off (YEA!) Now it's on to physical therapy (and easier baking-therapy ha ha) Sometimes you just have to take life one loaf at a time. ha ha

irishcoleen

You will appreciate this: whenever we go to my mother's house even if it's just for an afternoon get together while everyone is in town, my mother makes bread and rolls. Fights can literally break out at the table over the roll basket. If someone takes more than one at a time it's likely that the second roll will be confiscated and returned to the basket. We all have the recipe for my mother's bread but somehow it's just doesn't come out the same when we make it.

My mother will often bake more than one pan of rolls and hide it until it's time to go. Advanced mathematics are involved in dividing the leftover rolls based on how many children each person has and how often one or more of the children eat at home. If I wasn't involved in the process I would find it terribly funny - I know my mother's neighbors love to watch.

I'm so sorry you're having this run of bad luck. You neighbors and friends are reaping the rewards it seems! Glad you're back on your feet and I hope your family did something nurturing for you on Mother's Day.

sherylopfer

I am laughing out loud as I type. It is truly amazing the emotions that can be evoked from bread. ha ha I remember serious fights between me and my brother over who got the middle roll in the round pan of dinner or cinnamon rolls. We kept score on who got one last time, how big it was, if it was a truly exceptional middle or if we got cheated. Mom would always relinquish the centers to us...we thought, because she loved us SO much. Of course, now we know she prefers the outsides. ha ha GOOD, as a Mom, I am glad she wasn't over-sacrificing for us hooligans! And, now I watch my three children do the same thing! And, you know what? Not every time, but I do go-ahead and take a middle roll! haha AHHHHH, self-indulgence.

And, this argument about centers versus edges went beyond our family of four to the BIG family gatherings. I swear people actually selected their position round the table based on where the bread-basket was placed, just so they could get the rolls first and the one they wanted. Eagle-eyes were always watching round the table, and criticisms flew if family members broke the unwritten roll-etiquette.

I can just SEE your family jockeying for positioning to take home rolls. And, you're right -- it's only funny to a point. Because, seriously...we're talking about really good bread! Some things are just worth fighting for. Maybe our Moms used bread to teach us assertiveness. We should probably thank our Moms for using their bread to help us become strong women...it might even "earn" us another roll. ha ha

irishcoleen

And I am laughing out loud now!

dachshundlady

I am sorry I missed this thread 2 months ago but glad I finally stumbled upon it! My kids are now in their late 20's but I was the mom that made cookies for the wrestling, soccer and swim teams. The boys on the soccer team would literally do the "good game" hand slap thing with the opposing team and then sprint to the sideline for my cookies. And starving wrestlers? Forget about it! The wrestling coach even incorporated it into our home meets. He would set up tables with tablecloths and flowers for after the match and provide cider. I would enlist the help of other mothers and we would feed the whole gym; both teams and the fans. After a hard fought meet, it was delightful.
But bread is something I find just magical and, yes, ancient. I don't care if I ever cook a meal or bake another cookie but I just "knead" to bake bread!