A new home baker turned pro has hit the streets in my town in a newly established commercial kitchen. I’d seen some posts when cruising social media platforms and after reading her story and mission, I was sold. It took me a few weeks to place the first order, yet when I did, I utterly enjoyed the thoughtfulness it took to do so. I had to look forward and determine what the week would look like and ensure what I ordered would be savored and not go to waste. With my parents temporarily calling my place home, I knew I could order more than I would as a single home dweller.
The descriptions were crafted in just the right way, intended to make mouths water. The menu was more expansive than I anticipated, with ample recipes to choose from. And the ordering process was pleasurable. Rather than placing an order and waiting for a confirmation to know when to expect it, I knew that I was pre-ordering with the pick-up date of February 13th by 6 pm.
What brought me the most joy was supporting a local business, a passionate baker who was brave enough to start her own venture and share her talents. But along with that was the joy of simplicity. The joy of homemade, unprocessed baked goods. The joy of picking up that order and meeting others from the community who were as excited as I was to take that first bite. It felt small town, neighborly, and nostalgic – as if I were stepping back in time when life moved at a slower pace and people looked out for one another.
It evoked memories of a time before online shopping and supermarkets. It was a time when life’s essentials were delivered to your doorstep. Milk, eggs, ice blocks, coal, kerosene, bread, medicines, fruits and vegetables, newspapers – and more. Some of these were before my entrance into this world, but as an old soul I could transport myself via this simple act of ordering and picking up ‘home baked’ goods. I reflected upon the now extinct Sunday Blue Laws, when stores were prohibited from opening and families could share a day together – whether it be Church services, large Sunday dinners, or simply activities that didn’t involve work or responsibility. I remembered the days when I couldn’t wait to sit at the kitchen table with family and the Sunday paper spread open, each person reading varied sections then swapping while sipping tea or coffee.
Those were such wonderful times and though we live in a very different day and age, we can bring these timeless pleasures into our day to day. We can choose to live simply and honor the past through the conscious decisions we make now. We don’t have to shop the big grocery chains or order from Amazon. We can research local businesses or visit the Farmer’s Market and select choice meats, breads, dairy products and more. We can turn off the television and cell phones in an effort to reconnect with others and recharge ourselves. We lived without them once – we can certainly do it again.
Yes, that simple action brought alive countless memories, vivid thoughts, and pure joy. So, if you get the opportunity to order some sourdough bread from a local bakery or milk products from a local dairy, do it. It truly warms the heart and soothes the soul.
I encourage you to support your local businesses and foster community. Rather than talk about the good old days, maybe we bring some of them back.
