Don't let it die.

A friend of mine told me about a series on Hot 103, where they were talking about not letting things die...  things that our parents can do, but we don't, things that will likely disappear with their generation.  I have stumbled onto numerous conversations about this in the past, and have always been amazed.  Why on earth should we enjoy tortes while we still have them?  I personally am planning on just taking over the reigns.  I wonder why our generation is so fearful of those things?  I love making pickles, and jam, and every year I worry that I won't be able to find new jars or lids anymore, as it gets less and less popular.

Doing all of these things is simple, and I wonder whose fault their disappearance is.  Is it our lack of intrest?  Or is it our parents failure to instill those skills in us?  I know in some families, the parents are reluctant to pass the torch, "It's what I do", and they will cook the turkey dinner until the day they die.  When that happens, either someone will have to jump in to be the designated dinner-maker, or they will be ordering pizza.

I have also seen a big lack of interest.  We take for granted that someone will always be there to do these things for us.  When I lost my grandmother (at 75) and Dad (at 50) in the same year, I realized this is not the case.  If I want traditions to be part of my family, I am the one who has to do it.  My 52 year old mother is our family matriarch.  There are no 4 or 5-generation pictures for us to take. 

I will sew, I will pickle, and I will bake.  I will teach those skills to Girl (and Husband can teach her how to change the oil in her car), and we won't let it die.