In Remembrance of Cookies Past (and a Parrot on Nana’s Shoulder)
Dear Readers of Taste, Chers Lecteurs du Goût,
This week I’ve been writing about Nana, Christmas cookies, and the quiet ways families carry secrets.
I found this photo of her in my gallery—Nana with a parrot on her shoulder—and it made me laugh out loud. This is how I want to remember her: brave enough to let a bird perch by her ear, sturdy enough to keep baking anyway.
On Substack, I’ve shared a new piece called “In Remembrance of Cookies Past” about walking Fourth Street with tins of her cookies on Christmas Eve, and what it felt like to try to protect her love from everything swirling around us.
I’m still hunting for a photo of her recipe box (and the handwritten cards that carried her from year to year), but for now I’m starting with this Nana-and-the-parrot moment—a reminder that even in the hardest stories, there was always a flash of joy, mischief, and color.
👉 Read the story on Substack and maybe think of the Nana or elder in your life who taught you that cookies—and love—can survive a lot.
👉 If you’d like to read my latest novel about another bird, the Bécasse, browse the bookfunnel promo and download your free reads, including The Mistress of Apples and Bécasse, here:
Nana, unbothered by parrots and other chaos.