Courtesy of Melissa Vital ('23)
Melissa Vital
It may sound silly, but baking ugly sweater sugar cookies this weekend brought back so many wonderful memories. Every year at the beginning of December, my family friends and I would spend a whole afternoon baking away to make different-shaped sugar cookies and decorate them. Afterwards, exhausted as we were, we would sing our hearts out to Christmas songs while the fragrance of cookies baking and beautiful carols filled my heart with childish joy. Most of all, spending a day with people I love, taking a break from school and the stresses of the world, was very special for all of us. We started the tradition a few years ago, not knowing it would be taken away so suddenly this year due to the pandemic.
However, I am very lucky to be able to reminisce on those delightful memories while making my cookies this year. I hope that everyone stays safe during the holiday season. Even if you cannot hold your loved ones close this year, be strong in the knowledge that you are resourceful and resilient enough to change some traditions, creating a new togetherness. By sharing my baking adventure with you, my friends, and my family, I will create new connections while cherishing the old ones.