60 Something and Fudge

My Mother made the best fudge... and ever since her tragic death over 50 years ago, I can still remember the chocolate aroma that filled our tiny kitchen. Mother at the stove and me standing there watching as she stirred the beautiful glossy chocolate. She would drop a small amount into a cold glass of water, if it spread apart it was not ready. I remember my disappointment when the chocolate would dissolve in the water and the excitement each time she would drop a small amount into the cold water, fingers crossed, praying that it would stay in a ball of chocolate. That was the most glorious thing to see...plop! A glop, "it was ready!" She would then pour the mixture in a serving plate that was covered in butter, so it would not stick, Mother explained. Then after dinner, Mother, Daddy and I would slice the fudge into small squares and let the magnificent taste linger as long as possible. It was heavenly!

For several years I tried numerous times to re-create my Mother's fudge. No matter how many different recipes, how many different kitchens, how many different brands of ingredients, it always dissolved in the glass of water. I could not get it right. I eventually stopped trying and the memory faded through the years.

After my Dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was near the end, he said,"I am going to be with your Mother soon, but there is one thing I would love to have before I go...some of your Mother's fudge." Oh no, I could not deny my Dad's dying wish and I could not admit that I just didn't know how to replicate her fudge. So I told Dad that I would try to make it, but I needed his help. I put all the ingredients on the counter; cocoa, sugar, vanilla flavoring, milk and began to measure each one. My Dad looked at me and said, "you forgot the salt." What? He said that to make the perfect fudge you must add a dash of salt. Wait a minute, my head is spinning, SALT? Why would you put salt in fudge? My Dad explained that a dash of salt makes the sweet sweeter. "Really? OK, if you say so." A dash of salt was added, mixed, cooked, a small amount dropped into a cold glass of water and to my amazement - plop! A beautiful glop of fudge floating in the water. It was ready. Dad and I sat and ate that fudge till we were both stuffed as we recounted fond memories of earlier times. He smiled and said, "I think this might just be better than your Mother's fudge." It was heavenly! A few days later as I sat by his side, he closed his eyes and was at peace. I hoped he would tell my Mother that I finally got the recipe right.

Lesson Learned - A little rain makes the sunshine brighter. A little darkness makes the light more glorious. A little sadness makes the laughter louder. Life is sweet, but a little dash of salt makes the sweet so much more sweeter. Embrace life - it's heavenly!