Small but amazing

I was telling someone the other day about how my grandfather was a longshoreman and that he was at work very early in the day layered in clothes. He worked forever, it seemed, well past the normal age of retirement. It was a job that gave him lots of benefits. He could provide for his family when the children were young, he never was out of work as far as I know and he seemed to like it tremendously. We should all be so lucky!!

Grandpa also had the great fortune of seeing and unloading many delicacies from ships entering New York from around the world. I don't know how many languages he must have heard spoken at the docks or how many unique products he saw but have to imagine it was immense. I do know that once or twice (!) something special would come home with him. Amazing treats, special foods, treasures that he desired. Two that I recall most were pounds of pistachio nuts and tiny tiny candies called Eucalyptus Chips. The nuts were addictive. We would sit at the table and pile up the shells all the while munching on the nuts. In those days the shells were dyed. Red. Yes, red dye all over the nuts and the people. Obviously it was before we all knew of the danger of the red dye. I never understood the reason for dying the nuts, never really thought about it much till years later. So far I have no ill effects except the ability to down hundreds of pistachios at a time.

The Eucalyptus Chips were another story entirely. You could not eat hundreds of them. They were primarily for sore throats I believe because they were mentholated. Oh, but the power they had! The chips were small, very small. I would estimate the size of a mini chocolate chip. They were in a waxy paper twisted on both ends like a party favor. Inside was a small somewhat sticky light green candy. You would put it in your mouth and feel the power. It was amazing what something so small could do to your head. Cool and tasty and able to stick with the power of super glue to your braces!! I loved them.

When you think of the power of small what comes to your mind? I know the power of little ones kisses, and tiny hands wrapped around one big finger. I know the power of small winks and nods to show understanding. I feel the love from the power of a small note of thanks or a quick phone call. Small is big sometimes. Getting a special treat once in a while from your grandfather is a small token of love, whether or not the treat fell off the boat!