The Sweetness that Remains

The days of eating whatever candy and sweets I love are long past. But I do have a way of making pumpkin bread taste like dessert—which is my saving grace.

It seems we grow up delighting in sweets and then as we “mature” they are gradually reduced until they become a distant memory.

All in the name of health.

I understand it. I live it.

Still, I remember having two generous pieces of chocolate cake for my tenth birthday. No second thoughts. Just celebration.

Those of you who have also been duly warned about sugar— and who have celebrated as many birthdays —may recall the 1968 song, “Those Were the Days ” by Mary Hopkin. It feels truer now than it did back then.

Those were the days, my friend,

We thought they’d never end.

We’d sing and dance forever and a day

We’d live the life we choose

We’d fight and never lose

For we were young and sure to have our way.

Something about growing older makes those lyrics settle differently. Back then, time stretched ahead. We’d live the life we’d choose. We’d fight and never lose.

And then life teaches us otherwise.

We may not be able to celebrate with huge cake slices, but the sweetness is in our memories, and in our gratitude for those we love along the way—sweet friendships, sweet moments, sweet love stories.

Those were the days.

And they still are.