Lemon Cake

I live far from where you are, perhaps where you are lemon cake is common. Where I live it isn't. I cannot say as I am particularly fond of lemon cake, but this lemon cake was very special. This lemon cake was a reminder of days gone by, of family times, of laughs. . .

I found yesterday that I still have a lemon cake mix in my cabinet, my Mom brought it last year. Not only did she bring the mix, but she brought lemon frosting in a can too. Wow, now that is something I have NEVER seen here. But still since nearly a year has gone by, you can see that lemon cake isn't a dear favorite of my mine. Or perhaps I was just saving it up, wanting to savor the thought of a lemon cake in springtime, who knows. But yesterday I was in the mood to make it, so I did. It was SO much fun to mix up that cake according the packaged directions, written in English! I decided to make cupcakes, another reminder of home. Of course I had to liven them up a bit by adding poppy seeds and, raspberries to some, and chocolate to others. Then when they were cool I spread them with that thick lemon frosting and yum. . . . they were ready. My husband even seemed to really enjoy them. I enjoyed them too, but I enjoyed them not just for the fact that I was eating them now, but for a long ago memory shared with my family. . .

A long time ago, 12 years ago now, one family lived in this same town. In that family there were four children, and they were getting used to living in this new country. They of course longed for things from their far off land, and on occasion they would receive packages from "home." One time they got 8 big boxes , these boxes were filled with all kinds of goodies and delights, including one lemon cake, and one can of lemon frosting. They saved it for a good long time, till one of the little boys was to have a birthday. Then they made it up with care, and frosted it with even greater care. They were eager with anticipation for some of this delicious looking lemon cake. The time came, and the song was sung, the candles extinguished and the cake cut. The first bites were tested, and then, strange expressions and disappointed looks began to be passed. "Yuck," they said to each other, "this is terrible". The cake was tasted, it was fine, but the frosting, yuck, it was weird It had some odd tang to it, some strange flavor. So in the end the cake was scraped of its tangy layer and eaten without.

And so goes the story of the lemon cake, then and now.