The campus let us off at 1:00 pm today, and it was a slow day. Signing out of the campus, I began the stroll back home. Only a few steps were taken before Mother Nature gave me a surprise. A drizzle graced the day, and I ducked under the awning of a store to pull out an umbrella from my bag. It helps to be prepared. With the umbrella on my head, I continued the stroll. The petrichor spread through the atmosphere and engulfed my senses, accompanied by the pitter-patter sound of the raindrops hitting the pavement. It felt as if Mother Nature conspired to give me an autonomous sensory meridian response. I immediately felt my muscles relax, my energy levels rising, and the tiredness seeping away. The combination of the auditory, visual, and olfactory response to the rain was nature's rejuvenating therapy.
The rain started to get heavier, but fortunately I had reached home. The sky also started to get darker. After shaking off the now-wet umbrella, I set it aside to dry. Giving my mom a hug, I closed the door just in time, as the loud sound of thunder caused my heart to hammer loudly. Getting away from the door, I went to my room to freshen up. Donned in comfortable clothes and fuzzy slippers, I headed to the kitchen where warm lunch awaited me. I saw my mom going around turning off the lights and electrical appliances, a necessary task during a thunderstorm. I helped her by setting the candles in the living room and the kitchen, and then I enjoyed my lunch.
The house was silent as my siblings had yet to be let off from their campus. Deciding to use this time to bake with my mom, I requested her with puppy-dog eyes, and she caved in. So, baking will be our task for the next hour. Mom's cooking is something that I still crave despite my age. We started off by gathering all the ingredients for the cookies: fine flour, castor sugar, butter, eggs, powdered almonds, and of course, almonds. I felt my appetite building.
As we started measuring out the ingredients, my mom began to share baking tips with me. The first one was that no two ovens are the same and the timings need to be adjusted according to the instructions that come with the oven. The second tip was that the key to a delicious cookie is to use fresh, quality ingredients, none of that packaged goods. My mom also explained the difference between real butter and the knock-offs/substitutes we find at the stores. Taking a small bite of the knockoff, I felt a hardened, oily texture that made me feel like I would probably get a cold throat if I didn't soothe it down with a warm drink, and it even felt heavy on my stomach.
A bite into the real butter was a totally different experience. It was a silky, creamy texture that glided down my throat easily without irritating it and didn't feel heavy at all. I made a mental note to replace the butter I have been using with the real one, and I listened to my mom to absorb as much as I can. Most moments like these are a chance to catch up with each other, but for me, it is a learning opportunity. Putting the cookies in the oven, we cleaned up the mess, took a break, and sat down enjoying some hot beverages.
Finally, the timer went off with a 'TING,' and we rushed to the oven to check the cookies. As we opened the oven, the aroma wafted through the kitchen, making it smell like a bakery. Taking them out, we placed them on a wire rack to cool before indulging in them. They were not your typical cookies - it was a Middle Eastern version, which I am sure from your own experience you must have found to be quite different from the typical cookies you eat.
This was a great bonding and learning experience with my mom. Now, I'm going to indulge in the cookies. Talk to you guys next time.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Staringale and writers in Longevity and other communities.
Connecting Through Compassion
Waiting for the weekend, to unwind with nature, I got ready and was excited. Today was the day the campus decided for us to go on a volunteer trip to the orphanage in the next town. Grabbing my bag, I put on a helmet and cycled to the campus. The wind was blowing lightly, causing the creaking of the branches, and the streets were silent, with only a few pedestrians seen. Mr. Barker caught my attention as he was just opening his dainty little shop. The banner that he set outside showed 'Today's Deal', so I stopped outside, greeted him, and asked for the deal.
By Staringale2 months ago in Longevity
Pints & Parkruns: Jubilee, Spennymoor
If MC Escher created a parkrun, it might look a bit like Jubilee. Based in a compact – but surprisingly lovely – park in the small County Durham town of Spennymoor, it twists and turns its way up repeated hills. Although basic physics says it must come down again, somehow this route never feels like it gives runners a proper descent.
By Andy Potts7 days ago in Longevity
Lowering Blood Pressure: A Comprehensive Guide on How to Achieve Optimal Health
Understanding Blood Pressure Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. It's a vital part of how our heart and circulation works, providing oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs. However, when blood pressure rises to unhealthy levels, it poses a significant health risk. Hypertension, its medical term, can lead to heart disease, stroke, and even death if not managed properly.
By Neli Ivanova6 days ago in Longevity
Two Pink Lines
I had never really felt like a child. I'd always had to raise myself. My mother was just a teenager when she'd had me and consequently, we had spent my whole childhood arguing and fighting like a couple of sisters as opposed to mother and daughter. My father was older than my mother but still had some maturing to do himself. He focused his entire life on me, his little girl but never realized the pressure that put on me. I always felt I had to raise him even as he was trying to raise me. We raised each other. Then, I met him. He cares, he shows me a love like I've never known. For once, it's about me and I don't have to focus on other people's needs and what someone needs from me. Someone always wants something from you. That is what my parents have taught me. Love is selfish but it isn't with him. He is perfect, beautiful, funny, and can take me to places I've only dreamed about. Places outside my mind and my own pathetic life and I know that I will always love him. When we first met, I wanted him to have my children, but now? Right now, with us both still in high school? This is all happening so soon. I slipped into the restroom at work. It had been 6 weeks since my last menstrual and this was not normal. I couldn't wait any longer. I put the top on the test and waited. These 60 seconds felt like forever. What would we do? We were both seniors so we didn't have long to go before school was over but this was not the plan. The plan was for him to join the Army and me the National Guard and for me to get my associate's degree and then we marry, then have kids.
By Lindsey Altom5 days ago in Fiction
Comments (3)
Awww what a wonderful story! You write with such depth and details, bring the reader into the scene!
Nothing much better than a rainy day spent with mom baking cookies. Magic.
I appreciate its well-crafted and informative nature.