Ask and ye shall receive...

My great-grandmother, Mamaw, was an awesome woman.  She was strong, and wise, and intelligent, and clever.  When I was little, she'd pick me up from school, and we'd hang out.  Mmm, Chick-Fil-A and Braums.  She took me to the pet store, and the mall, and to the movies whenever a Disney came out.

She was a woman who survived the Depression.  She lived on a farm.  She went to college.  She married a businessman, and raised two children.  She was an icon in her local church.  And she and her husband were key supporters in the formation of the Oklahoma Christian Women's Association.

Mamaw passed away almost 15 years ago, in her 80s, from a series of strokes.  Her legacy is a myriad of wisdom, anecdotes, patience, paintings, turquoise jewelry, and cookbooks.  The OCWA compiled recipes from their members and sold the books as a fundraiser.  I grew up with two editions of Stepping Stones to Good Eating.  I have memories of my mother and I flipping through the pages, looking for tasty things to make.  Southern banana cake, Dina Shore brownies, jello with applesauce and red hots... We would write comments in the margins, and I remember drawing little cookies on the face page of the "cookie" section, salad on the face page of the "salad" page, etc...  But when I got married and moved away, I missed having them on my shelf.

When my grandmother moved and cleaned out her house, I inherited a pile of cookbooks.  Most of them were from my grandfather's collection, but there was one copy of Stepping Stones in the pile.  It wasn't stained or drawn all over like my mother's copy, but it held a place of pride on my shelf.  Every time I looked at it, I would think of my mother, and Mamaw, and smile.

However, this edition didn't include everything.  I called my mother last May, needing the southern banana cake recipe out of the other Stepping Stones book.  She read it to me over the phone, and I typed it into my laptop.  We chatted about how much we loved Mamaw, and how much we loved that cake, and the memories we had attached to it and the book.  And then, I got a brilliant idea...

The OCWA is still an operating organization.  So I pulled up their website, and found an email address.  I sent them an email, asking if maybe they could locate a copy of the 4th edition for me.  I explained how Mamaw had been on the operating committee, and how much having a set of these books meant to me.  I got a response the next day:

"I am thrilled that you contacted me regarding the Stepping Stone’s cookbook.  I am in touch with the Tulsa chapter to see if they can locate a copy of the specific book you are looking for.  Although your great-grandmother was an active member before I became involved in OCWA, I have heard her name before.  I will be in touch soon to let you know what I find out.  I hope that we are successful in finding a copy for you."

How cool is that, huh?  And then, later that day, an email from a different person:

"I  am with the Tulsa Chapter of OCWA and received an email from XXXXX today.    We have sold out of all of this cookbook, however, I have found you a copy for you.  Please send me your address and I will be happy to mail it to you. There is something special about having cookbooks which hold special treasures from our family and friends. By the way, I grew up in (X town), where (Mamaw's brother-in-law and sister-in-law) lived.  Upon visiting with my mother, she said, (he and Mamaw's husband) were brothers.  Although, I did not know your grandparents, I knew of them.  Your family was very supportive of the beginnings of Central Christian College.  My father and (Mamaw's husband) were actively involved, raising support for the college.
I look forward to hearing from you and will be thrilled to send you a copy of the cookbook."

Ask and ye shall receive.

How cool is that?!?  I offered to pay, at least for the shipping, but they said there was no need.  I'm not sure which I'm more awed by - the fact that they sent me a copy of this precious book, or the fact that this woman knew my family.  A reminder that Mamaw touched more lives than I could possibly know.  The knowledge that this cookbook probably has sentimental value for other people out there?

I got the book a few days ago.  Right there, second page, it says: If you would like to purchase one of these books, please mail your order to (Mamaw), and her address.  What I wouldn't give for a few more days, or hours, with her.  To go to Chick-Fil-A, and bond over a chicken salad sandwich.