Dec 8

Written by: Sandra Simpson
12/8/2005 1:08 PM

Southern Secrets………………………One of my favorite things to give at Christmas is Lee Smith’s book, CHRISTMAS LETTERS. It makes a wonderful holiday gift. I keep several on hand for last minute holiday hostess gifts. It reduces some of the Christmas shopping stress to know there are a couple of these books under the tree, just in case someone shows up with a gift for me and I don’t have anything for them (Opps!).
Giving CHRISTMAS LETTERS is also a good way to inspire friends and family to begin writing their own Christmas letters, especially newlyweds spending their first Christmas together or the first year a love one’s family starts to expand with children. Christmas letters are a wonderful way to stay connected to families that have moved from our neighborhoods or on to new jobs. I adore receiving those end-of-the-year gossipy letters and kids pictures from busy friends and family.
Reading Lee Smith’s book gives me a new appreciation for family stories. In her novella, 3 generations of North Carolina women tell their life story through Christmas letters. Each letter is written at Christmas time, in order to update family and friends with significant and not so significant events of the year. Writer, Lee Smith capped off a fun idea of Christmas letter writing by closing each of her characters letters with period recipes.
The first letter is from a homesick, newlywed, named Birdie Pickett. On December 24, 1944 Birdie writes about her life in North Carolina, she is living on the Neuse River with her in-laws while her husband is off at war. This is her first Christmas away from her home in West Virginia and her first Christmas with her new baby; Mary. In 1956, when Birdie writes about the Neuse River flooding and taking away their husband’s family farm, it really brings home this year’s tragedy in New Orleans. Birdie explains “One of the worst things about a flood is that, unlike a fire, which makes a clean sweep of everything, when the waters recede at last, everything is unfortunately Still There, and though it is all ruined beyond hope, you still feel like you have to clean things up, you ought to be able to use them again, but the truth is, you cannot.” When Birdie came back to her home after the flood waters receded there was a fat catfish still flopping around the house? The ladies at the church cooked-up the catfish for supper that night. When one couple returned to their home after Hurricane Katrina they found 16 poisonous snakes had taken up residence there.
In 1967 Birdie’s daughter Mary takes over the letter writing task. Mary’s life in Raleigh, North Carolina takes us from poverty to prosperity, through health problems and marriage woes. In 1996 after Mary joins the Peace Core, her daughter Melanie writes the last of the Christmas letters and recipes to “everyone in Mom’s Circle of light”.
Over coffee I had the opportunity to ask this wonderful story teller how she came up with the recipes for CHRISTMAS LETTERS. Her Mother’s recipe box is one of her secrets. She treasures this little green box. Her Mother’s decoupage lights up the outside of the box and the inside is filled with years of recipes. For Lee, years of recipes represents a lifetime of memories and stories of her mother and their family.
Over many Christmas seasons and I have read and re-read this book, each time I walk away with something different. This year I am starting a family recipe story box. It is time I started recording these wonderful recipes and stories that go along with them and who knows, maybe my daughter, my niece or even one of my nephews will come to love this treasure chest of family history.
Here is Birdie’s recipe from December 24, 1966; named for her husband.
BILL’S FAVORITE FUDGE
1 – 12oz. package of chocolate chips
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1 – Cup peanut butter
Melt peanut butter and chocolate chips over low heat until smooth. Gradually stir in marshmallows. Pour into 9-inch square pan and chill until firm. Cut into squares.
Author, Lee Smith lives in North Carolina. She has written many books, including FAIR AND TENDER LADIES, ORAL HISTORY and THE LAST GIRLS. She is in the final editing stages of a new book. This newest book is set during the Civil War. Something tells me this story will be another good from one of North Carolina’s most charming story tellers.

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