31 Comments
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Billy Mann's avatar

I love your writing Caroline.

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Caroline's avatar

Aww thanks, Billy!!

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J just J's avatar

Loved this piece about your memory of your grandma's grits. For me it's my grandma's silver dollar pancakes. Who cares if we are smoothing over the memories. Your grandma having the greatest grits and my grandma having the best pancakes makes life a little sweeter I think and filled with a little more love.

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Caroline's avatar

Right?! I don’t think there’s any downside to these types of memories. True or not.

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Kelly Wise's avatar

Oh my word, what a beautiful piece you have offered us. The love of and for your grandmother is palpable. ❤️

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Caroline's avatar

Thank you so much, Kelly. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

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Marco & Sabrina's avatar

Proust's Madeleine; Caroline's Grits.

There's nothing more evocative than food memories

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Caroline's avatar

They are so vivid!!

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Susan McMahon's avatar

I grew up in grits-land too, had them when I was back in Nola in March. Only time I eat them. Thanks for bringing up memories for me too.

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Caroline's avatar

Then you definitely know good grits!!!

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Lisa Farbstein's avatar

What reminded you of your grandmother and her magical

grits that had you thinking about it recently?

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Caroline's avatar

I read a journal prompt the other night: to think about a certain food and transport myself back there.

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

"shoulder blades like wings" 😭 That part. What a gorgeous memory, Caroline! It's always the little things that we miss most. The everyday, didn't give it a second thought in the moment things. Thank you for sharing this with us.

God, I love grits. This made me miss my mama's cooking.

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Caroline's avatar

Right?! I never thought about any of this as it happened…because it always happened. Until it didn’t.

I can only imagine how incredibly she was!! 💗💗💗💗

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

Until it didn't...😭🫂 She was indeed incredible. I worship that woman!

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Caroline's avatar

Love you 🫂

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

Love YOU!

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Lily Yee's avatar

Grits...chicken and dumplings...mmm, you're making me hungry. Such comfort and cherished memories. So lovely, Caroline. ✨

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Caroline's avatar

All the good stuff!!! Thanks, Lily!!!!

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appleton king's avatar

such a great and true Southern story/reflection....my 20 years experiences of the Deep South came flooding back: of dumplings and grits made in kitchens without much fuss by deceptively frail in older age but women of iron-clad will and abandon to discernment and memory and so much of it revolving around the basics of nourishment, food......thanks!!

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Caroline's avatar

She also made the best chicken and dumplings!!!!!!!

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Katharine Beckett Winship's avatar

We need a book about your grandmother. I love her already!!

I know what you mean about how she moved in the kitchen. I adored helping my grandmother make my grandfather’s lunch. We were side by side at the counter (I was up on a stool.) Her hands were methodical but loving as she made his sandwich and then let me wrap it in wax paper. We’d put dates and olives and all sorts of treats in his bag. Then we’d walk him to the train. Thanks for prompting a precious memory. 💕💫

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Caroline's avatar

These memories are so vivid!!! It brings me joy!! Thank you so 🤍💗

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Mike's avatar

No one else could have written this the way you do, Caroline. 👍

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Caroline's avatar

Aww thanks Mike!!

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Mary Pierce's avatar

Love this. Grannie is right there. 💜

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Caroline's avatar

Thank you, Mary!!

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

I don’t like grits but I often order them because I want to like them. I recognize that is stupid but they’ve always seemed like they could fix all your problems.Thanks for verifying!

The old man who taught me how to bartend made the best Rusty Nails on earth (don’t judge, I was 20 something pretending to be 70) I would watch him make them and memorize the proportions but mine were never as good. It’s all about the love they put in ♥️

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Caroline's avatar

I do that with brussels sprouts! I want to love them…

We’ve got to let the experts cook! And mix. And just watch in awe.

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

Imma make me some grits! 🙌 its all about the memories 👌im try N to think of granny food my gran made…. Hmmmm oh its the maids who did the cooking back in my home, in a “dirty kitchen” separate from the main house. I hang out there..

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Caroline's avatar

Kitchen is always where the good stuff happens!

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