Bena Mae’s Kitchen: People I Used to Know

 People I used to know have become an illusion to me now. Old friends and acquaintances have faded from my memory until I hear their name or see a face from long ago that sets my mind to wondering who they are, or, when or where do I know them from. 

I had just finished my purchase at the drug store counter a few days ago when a lady behind me stopped me. "I need to talk to you," she said. "Do you remember me?"

This was one of those times when my memory went into overdrive trying to put a name to a face. Everyone has experienced this at one time or another.

"er…I seem to remember your face, but you are going to have to help me out. Did we used to work together?" I asked hopefully. "No," she said. "We went to school  together."

"Oh, yes," I lied, pretending that I remembered exactly who she was. Now comes the tricky part…"what was your last name?" She answered with a name that was of no help to me at all. Why is it that the floor never opens up and swallows you at times like this?

An e-mail from former Corbinite Dan Archer sent my mind back over a 60-year period when I was in high school at Corbin Central. He wrote about people I had known on a daily basis, people with whom I had shared classes, with whom I had cheered the Redhounds on…walked with to and from school and who had scattered to other parts of the country. Some of them came to mind immediately, others were people I had only heard of. Time had pushed them to a corner of my mind that had gathered cobwebs for lack of use. But Dan has been good at keeping up with many of them.

He mentioned Lela Pope, our English teacher who played an inspirational role in my less than remarkable education. Her class was exceptional to me because I loved English literature. I was good at writing essays, reciting poetry, and turning in a good paper on the works of the great poets. It was in her class that I discovered the love of the written word that has been my constant companion to this day.

I was watching the  graduation ceremony of a graduating class on local TV the other night and my thoughts fast-forwarded to 60 years from now. Will these young students remember this important night of their lives, I wondered. Will they drift apart, even though they deny they ever will. Will they look back on their high school years as a precious memory?

Would that I could board a time-travel machine that would take me back to those days and relive the friendships that I took for granted, that I thought would never end. Would that I could see their faces…speak their name.  

Because they are a part of my history…a part of who I am today. 

Peach season doesn’t last very long, so take advantage of them while they last.

Southern Peach Cobbler

8 fresh peaches – peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons cornstarch

 1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

1/4 cup boiling water

 MIX TOGETHER:

3 tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.

Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.