My own part of family history

On Sunday,May 15,2011 I was given a rich gift. No,its not money,or worth anything of value to anyone but me. My Stepmother and Memaw passed on an iron skillet that was my great grandmother,Granny's, to me. The skillet is round,black,and well seasoned with love,great care,and has been used to feed at least now 4 generations of my family. My Daddy had it when he passed away in December of 2010. My Memaw wanted me to have it,so I too could continue the almost 80 years of usage out of it,and someday,maybe,pass it along to my children,or a grandchild. Those days,I pray,are in the far future.
I asked my Memaw,{paternal grandmother} why me? I come from a huge clan of Aunts,Uncle's,and cousins of various degree's. She simply told me that my Granny loved to cook for her large family, She loves to cook for hers,Daddy loved to cook for his,and I love to cook for my own family. The families have changed in size,the world around this black hardend skillett has changed,but it has remained the same. A constant,if you will,in an ever changing and evloving socitey. The life my Granny had may seem very different than the one I do. But I dont think so. She married,had children,loved her children,grandchildren,greats like me,and beyond,until her death. Her world outside her kitchen was different than the one I see. But the fundamentals are the same. Love,nurture,creativity,and food. All that is a constant too. I love my family and feed them daily,just as she did,and the generations before me. I dont know where my Granny got this skillet or if it was her only one. But to me that does not matter. What matters is NOW,its MY turn to pass the love of a well seasoned life along to my own small family. Using the same method she did,and my Memaw,Dad and Mom,and now me,food. But its oh so much more than food,its life lessons that I hope to pass on to my kids,and lessons ,I've yet to learn.
This simple gift,this skillet has a story to tell,and I intend to write mine and maybe my Granny's and Memaw's as well. Time seasons people,and skitllets too. Im wondering what it will teach me. No,its not the only one I use either. My Memaw bought me a set at the local Fred's store that I have had to season and reseason my self. But this one,this rare find in a family of so many,can teach me things,and maybe my kids,if im willing to listen and learn.
I cant wait to see where it takes me.