Many Christmas Eves ago, I remember going to the Koether farm for presents, food, and a fireworks display. My what a celebration it was. This afternoon as I was mixing my easy microwave fudge recipe, I thought of all the goodies Aunt Willie Mae and Grandma cooked for us. It was a mammoth table full of all kinds of candies, cakes, sandwiches, dips, potato salad, and seasonal meats. They must have had to start getting ready weeks in advance. Their fudge was not instant like mine. And their divinity was divine. The Koether family was most generous with numerous gifts for all their children and grandchildren. When the night became dark, we gathered outside to watch the outburst of color from the tons of fireworks our uncles, Bill, and El set off to the excitement of us all. Afterward, we returned to our home to collapse in bed with visions of sugar plums dancing through our heads and tummies. Oh, what Christmas Eves those were.
