The Rascal

                                   Hossein Hajjafar

I was trying to get family members to share memories and stories at our recent Hajjafar Reunion. I was talking to Ali joon and I told him that Mohammad had hinted to me that their father Hossein had been somewhat of a rascal in his younger days. I asked Ali joon if he knew anything about that. 

Ali thought and gave a drawn out, “noooooo” as he began shaking his head. Then he paused, smiled, and said, “well, he might could have been a bit of a rascal”. 

Then, Ali told me that when his father Hossein had been young, Hossein’s mother Sakineh Bagheri, had died. This left his father Mohammad Haj Jafar with two children: Hossein, and Zahra.

Hossein’s father would remarry Bebe jan and they would later have Hassan, and Sakineh. Hossein did not seem happy with this marriage happening.

Ali told me that his dad was frequently doing things to scare off this new woman in his father’s life. I imagine that it was through no fault of his father’s new wife. Perhaps Hossein just did not think that his mother could be replaced. 

Bebejan, Rokhsareh Mohseni Hajjafar, Sakineh Hajjafari Baqheri, sitting on couch

                Kobra “Esmat” Hajjafar Nikdel at her wedding with Bebejan

Ali said that one evening after dark, Hossein had covered himself in a sheet and hid in wait of his dad’s new wife. When she came around the corner, a “frightful” ghost appeared, startling her! She realized that it was Hossein dressed in a sheet. She shooed Hossein off and told him that there was nothing that he could do that could scare her off from her new family.

Mohammad remembers hearing his dad tell this story also. He says that when he told it he would be laughing throughout the entire story. 

Gradually, this wonderful woman would win the children of her husband over. They would grow to love and respect her as would their future children. Ali and his siblings called her Nan Baba and loved her dearly.

Mohammad speaks of Bebe Jan with such love and respect. She was his “step” grandmother but he loved her as dearly as anyone related by blood. 

Hossein Hajjafar with his wife Rokhsareh Mohseni Hajjafar with four of their children, Kobra “Esmat” Hajjafar Nikdel, Fatemah “Fali” Hajjafar Alizadeh in front; Ali Hajjafar on left; Mohammad Hajjafar on right

Ali Hajjafar, Fali Hajjafar Alizadeh, Reza Hajjafar in front of Rokhsareh Mohseni Hajjafar, and Esmat Hajjafar Nikdel; all loved Bebejan

Ali Hajjafar, Reza Hajjafar in front of Rokhsareh Mohseni Hajjafar, Fali Hajjafar Alizadeh, and Mohammad Hajjafar; all loved Bebejan. 

I suppose we should all remember that new folks in our lives can never replace the loved ones that we have lost, but love is to infinity and beyond. There is always room in our hearts to fill it with new loved ones and still hold love for those who have passed.

P.S. I think that Baba Jan was a rascal.

                                            Hossein Hajjafar

Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture

So, a while back, I shared a you tube with my family on how some folks used sweet gum balls to make a tincture that is supposed to provide some health benefits. One of those benefits is as a kind of “tamiflu” anti-viral tincture. Another benefit was to help lower blood pressure. 

Well, I was very intrigued with the idea of making some sweet gum ball tincture but we don’t have a sweet gum tree. Dad and Mom have one in their yard, but it must be either a female or a “gelded” male, as it has no balls. 

Well, Dad mentioned that he thought he remembered a sweet gum tree being in Uncle Dale and Aunt Naomi Smith’s front yard. Their grandson Kevin Smith currently lives there so I explained to him that I was hoping to start making  a batch of Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture. I asked if he did have a sweet gum tree and if he did, did it have balls?

Well, Kevin checked and it sure did have balls and I could have some. I told him that I could come pick them whenever it was convenient for him; but he very generously picked me a box full and mailed them overnight to me.

So, I had my sweet gum balls and now I needed the one other ingredient, a bottle of at least 100 proof liquor. Now, I am not much of a drinker, but if I had any leftovers, I’d prefer they be vodka. 

The day I received my sweet gum balls, I asked my husband if he could stop by a liquor store the next day and get me a big bottle of vodka and it needed to be at least 100 proof vodka.

Well, he looked at me like I was asking for the moon and said, “100 proof, why do you need that high of a proof?” 

I was kind of taken aback by his question and said, “What do you mean that high of a proof? That is only 50% alcohol. Does vodka come lower proof than 100 proof?” I never realized that you could buy “baby” vodka.

Well, I explained that I required at least 100 proof because anything lower and my tincture could spoil. I didn’t want that to happen as my gum ball supply would be depleted.

So, the next day, my husband told me that he was going to get my vodka for me. I took my gum balls to the kitchen and started preparing them for the tincture. I chopped them into pieces and I wanna tell you that chopping sweet gum balls can cause some blisters! Then I placed my chopped sweet gum balls into two quart jars just as my vodka arrived. 

Well, my hubby exclaimed that that bottle of vodka had cost over 40 dollars! It really wasn’t that big of a bottle either; it wasn’t the kind that even needed a handle. I guess he mentioned the high price to the liquor store clerk as the clerk told him that he could get a lower proof for cheaper. My husband told him that his wife had asked him to bring back nothing lower than 100 proof. The clerk probably thought I was a drunk and didn’t realize the budding herbalist that I may become. 

So, I poured my vodka into my awaiting jars filled with chopped sweet gum balls and put them aside to work. 

The sweet gum ball mixture worked for over 6 weeks on the shelf of a closet. I took it out in preparation for straining it to get the final tincture. Prior to straining, the mixture was very dark, and it was difficult to see the chopped sweet gum balls inside. 

I spread several layers of the cheesecloth over a bowl and poured the contents of the jars into it.

The sweet gum balls are draining. I spilled a bit of the tincture pouring it over the cheesecloth. I just wanted folks to see how "pretty" it is. It kind of reminds me of the water used to clean watercolors off of the paintbrush after using every color. It might even look a bit like the bath water after a coal miner has had his bath. It does have a nice fresh scent though; it sort of reminds me of going Christmas tree shopping.

I'm straining the tincture a final time through a coffee filter.

And here is the final result; a couple bowls of vodka soaked sweet gum ball pieces, and a jar of triple strained tincture. I hope that I won't need the tincture, but I have it if I do.

Later, my cousin Kevin messaged me asking if my “medicine” had worked and I told him that I hadn't needed it yet. I told him that I wasn’t sure if the gum balls would work or not, but the 100 proof vodka might make a person feel better anyway! 

Mom and Dad asked me how my gum ball tincture was coming along too. I told them that I hadn't had a need for it yet but I was looking forward to trying it if I ever did.

Mom laughed and said, “Don, we will probably be seeing April driving around selling snake oil before long.”

I laughed and told her that I would get me an ice cream truck that plays a bluegrass tune, and drive around during flu season giving out Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture. Of course, I will make no health claims and it will be free. 

Of course, I might have to start charging to cover the vodka cost. Come to think of it, I will probably have to hire a bodyguard. I am sure that the Tamiflu makers might put out a hit on me. 

So, one day during flu season, if you see an ice cream truck playing bluegrass in the neighborhood, come out and have a spot of Grannyma’s Magical Sweet Gum Ball Tincture. It may not have any health benefits, but you just might feel better anyway! 

Since writing this blog, I have sampled my tincture a couple times when experiencing viral type symptoms. I took one teaspoon of the tincture a couple times a day for a day or two. The taste leaves a lot to be desired, but it MAY have helped to decrease my symptoms. It is difficult to be certain though. I am certain that it didn’t kill me!