BREAD AND JAM FOR JODY

When I was a little girl one of my favorite books was Bread and Jam for Frances.  I remember reading it, laying on the floor on my tummy while nibbling on my own jelly smeared slice of bread.  There was a virtual, stereo-like quality when sharing the same meal as the character in the book.  Blackberry jam was always my favorite.  I read that book all through grade school, from Virginia to Connecticut, to Scotland and then Hawaii.  I believe somewhere along the way myparents bought me a copy of the book... or maybe it was purchased for my baby sister.  At any rate, after a while it was always at hand when ever the urge hit me.

So naturally it was one of the first books I bought for my own children.  Over the years I have read the story, in various prints and publications more than any other book I know of.  The story was almost always accompanied by bread covered with some sticky, sweet variety of jam or jelly.  It was almost a requirement.

This morning I dropped two slices of bread into the toaster and went to the refrigerator in search of some jelly to spread on my 'breakfast'.  There, in the very front of the shelf, was a sticky jar of blackberry jam, the childrens' favorite.  Gleefully I pulled it out and when the toast was ready, I spread the jam on generously.  One bite and I was instantly transported to a time when cares were few and where life included one very tenacious and precocious little badger named Frances, who's favorite snack of jam and bread taught me, and my own children, the pleasures of reading.  And I can't help but wonder... is there such a thing as the bread and jam diet  because that is something I think I could do.