ULLABENULLA: THE RED SPOON

As children of immigrants, with no immediate family in the states (except for our parents), my siblings and I had many "adopted" grandparents, god-parents, aunts and uncles... My favorite was an elderly couple who lived next door to us in Mill Valley. She was a well-known English Professor, who loved Shakespeare, he an Antiques appraiser specializing in Oriental art. They lived in a huge cavern of a home (we lived in their carraige house). Living so close, we spent lots of time with them. They had no children of their own, and we quickly became "theirs" and they our adopted "god-parents". She was an amazing cook, (as was my mother!) and together they would dream up incredible gourmet feasts, that we all gorged on. They were both great collectors, and the house was like a well lived in museum. Every thing was used, nothing was too precious. When mealtime was announced my brother and I would race to the cutlery drawer and pick out our own utensils. There was lots of mismatched silver, elaborate oyster shell spoons, spoons with animals carved on the ends, and gold grapefruit spoons. My favorite though, was this little red wooden spoon with a golden horse painted on it. It fit nicely in my small hands and held lots of yummy food as well. I was never really a 'horsey' kind of girl, but I loved this spoon. It felt like a fairytale kind of spoon, and whenever we ate at my 'godparents' house it was mine. Years ago, when they passed away, I asked for only one thing, the red spoon, so I could remember not only my dear 'god-parents' but the food, the meals, the comfort, and the company. (The little pig tray, was a flea market find)