Toothie

Today I threw away my teeth.

My parents have been cleaning out their home, and relieving themselves of my childhood worldly goods.  Every time I see my parents, they have at least a shopping bag full, and sometimes a truckload of things to give me.

Usually I tell them to throw it all away before they bring it over.  But they don't listen.  I have unearthed a few treasures: a topographical map of California that I made of salt dough that I made in 4th grade; all of the programs from all of the piano recitals that I ever played in; every valentine that I saved from my classmates in grades K-8; a gold necklace from my high school boyfriend; my teeth.  All of my baby teeth, 4 adult molars, and 3 extracted wisdom teeth.

I've been saving my children's teeth in baggies in my drawer when I play tooth fairy.  Paul thinks it's gross, and tells me to throw them away.  Until now, it's felt somewhat sinful to throw them away- I might as well throw away one of their fingers!  But, upon receipt of this package of my old teeth, I know that throwing their teeth away is the right thing to do.  There's no 33 year old out there that wants their baby teeth.

This is why I felt somewhat virtuous when this morning I helped the girls throw away the majority of the schoolwork that they've been hoarding.  It has been an interesting process for me going through my old stuff.  If I had never seen it, if I had never known it existed, I would be a much happier person.  I wish that my parents really had thrown away all of my things without bringing it over- gold necklace notwithstanding.  Opening up these Pandora's boxes of mementos from my past is a difficult thing to do.  I don't really want all of the stuff.  I have no need for my geometry notebook, notes passed between friends in middle school, the signed script from my 6th grade play, misspelled Kindergarten work, or hand prints from when I was 5.  Or is this the measure of my life?  Paper objects that add up to a whole?  Hopefully no one ever needs to write a biography about me, because they won't have much to work with.  I've made myself be at peace with leaving my past behind.

waffle cake

Did you know that you can make cake in a waffle iron?  It has been hot here lately, and I didn't want to turn on the oven, so, in an attempt to indulge my sweet tooth, I made half of this cake recipe and half of this frosting recipe.  I'm usually more of a cookie or pie lover, but I have to say that a warm waffle with oozy chocolate frosting was quite delicious!  And, in the name of keeping the house cool, it sure beats the easy-bake oven.