Chapter 46

Savannah 2022

There were a few remarkable times in Professor Johnathan Wilder’s life that he could feel his breath taken away when it came to his daughter, Addison.

Today, he was remembering the first.

John Wilder was a man with deep intellect and a wickedly keen sense of humor. Many considered his humor dry as is such with the British. He could deliver a bon mot with a straight face and those around him would sometimes have to pause and realize that he was being clever not serious.

He never was at a loss for words. As a professor, historian and lecturer on Southern Literature, one could consider him esoteric and detached. However, this was not the case. He was a man who deeply loved his family, his church and his community. He considered himself a servant to the people and institutions he held dear. He passionately supported them and did all within his power to help ensure their success.

Today was Addison’s 24th birthday. As was the tradition for all family birthdays, a special celebration dinner was being prepared at home. From the kitchen, he could smell the sweet and warm autumnal aroma of persimmon and fig pudding baking the oven. It was one of Addison’s favorites.

As John was setting the table, he looked up and saw his reflection in the rectangular gilt mirror that hung over his grandmother’s Sheraton sideboard.

Although he looked at himself every day in the mirror while shaving, just then, he saw something different.

He saw a man he had recognized for the last 48 years, but he also saw one that was graduating into a dignified maturity. He was graying at the temples, but his smile was just the same. His closely cropped beard had equal parts of grey and dark brown. His blue eyes still had their luster and an expression of mischief. In all, he was still fit due to his continued devotion to a healthy routine of diet and exercise. There were no wrinkles per se, but there were faint lines around the corners of his eyes. They indicated he had spent a lifetime of smiling and laughing. But most remarkably, he noticed that his face’s landscape had settled into a look of gratitude and a life well spent. He was thankful for his family, his health and the knowledge that life still had many gifts to be given.

One thing that had not changed was John’s vivid memory of his daughter’s birth on this day 24 years ago.

He had always wanted to be a very proactive and involved father. His loving wife, Anne suggested he be with her when it came to for the child to be born. He did not hesitate and considered it a privilege that his wife wanted him there for the most special event of their married lives.

The day that Addison was born was a picture-perfect November day in Savannah. The morning was cool, but the sun shone and the temperatures settled into the lower 70’s. There was a vibrancy and a feeling of expectation in the air. The sky was cloudless. One could look up and see only a vast celestial sea of cerulean blue. He would always remember it as the same shade as his newborn daughter’s eyes. Both were clear and bright. Both evoked the feeling of knowing no limitations.

John was prepared to hear his newborn daughter, Addison Moira Wilder cry upon her entrance to the world stage. However, that was not the case.

She cooed.

The doctor and nurses were mesmerized. They had never witnessed such a behavior in a newborn. She had the makings of a slight smile. Her tiny and beautiful countenance conveyed the message that she was happy to be there. The nurses cleaned her and presented her to her mother. After a few moments, Anne asked her husband if he wanted to hold his new daughter. As he approached to take the baby, Addison looked directly at him. She conveyed the message that she had complete trust that he would be a constant and steady source of love and support in her life.

He could feel warm tears of joy running down his cheeks. He realized he was just given the gift of a lifetime. It was at that moment John’s heart seemed to stop. So did his breath along with it. Words no longer existed.

Today, he was a father.

Persimmon & Fig Pudding

INGREDIENTS

Cooking Spray
4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. Southern Conserve Classic Fig Preserves
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
2 c. milk
2 ½ c. persimmon pulp
6 Tbsp. butter, melted

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 2

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, white sugar, and brown sugar until thoroughly combined. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and milk together until smooth, Add fig preserves and the flour mixture, alternating with the persimmon pulp in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the melted butter. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish.