Ish...Ish

     Every time we visited my Grandma, we knew that on top of her fridge, she would have a plastic plate filled with Jolley Ranchers.  We knew that at sometime during the visit at Grandma's house, one of the kids would build up enough courage to ask if we could have one.  Of course we would get one (or two or more), but we had to ask to be polite.
     My Grandpa always had  a pack of Peppermint or Wintergreen Lifesavers in his pocket and he would pop the top one off with his thumb and give it to the grandkids.
     My mom loves to take her grandkids to McDonalds.  She was even nicknamed, "Grandma Donalds" by some of the kids.  One summer, three of my sisters all had baby boys--born June, July, and August.  I remember a picture with all of them in their car seats at McDonald's--she likes to start them young.
     When my oldest niece was not old enough to be talking yet, my dad would approach her, wrinkle his pocket so she could hear a wrapper and suddenly produce a package of fruit snacks.  Since then, he always has a package of fruit snacks in his pocket or his car for the grandkids.  He has been named by a few of them, "Grandpa Treat."  The kids love it.  He loves it!
      A few years ago, I went to visit my friend, Julie, and her children.  I just happened to have some Swedish Fish in my car and I passed them out to the kids.   The next time I visited her, one of the kids asked if I had any more Swedish Fish.  Since then, I have to come prepared...or I am in real trouble.  The first thing these kids ask me, is if I brought any Swedish Fish.  I have learned and I have an emergency stash in my car.  There are now seven kids in the family.  I LOVE these kids!   I kind of feel like they are adopted nieces and nephews.  The three year old was a late talker, but every time he would see me, he would say, "Ish? Ish?"  He knew:  my face equalled Swedish Fish.  In fact,  I think "Ish" was one of his first words.
     Now, I am not advocating for sugar or fast food, but sometimes Grandparents, aunts, and adoptive aunts need little treat traditions.  And you know what Willy Wonka would sing, "The Candy Man can cause he mixes it with LOVE and makes the world taste good."
  


"...traditions are formed over time as we repeat the same actions over and over again. As we are steady and unchanging in doing that which is good, our traditions become firmly rooted in righteousness."   
                                     -Sister Cheryl C. Lant,
                                     General Conference April 2008