Christmas Cookies: After Christmas Cookies

"Can you make still make Christmas cookies, Grandma?" asked Lydia, her seven-year old granddaughter. "Maybe we should call them after-Christmas cookies, now." Lydia hesitated a moment, wondering if she should have asked her grandmother that question. "My mom says that you are forgetting things."

"Young lady, I have probably forgotten more things than your mother has ever even learned," replied Agatha, laughing aloud. "After all, I am seventy years old."

"My mom is thirty five," said Lydia. "That is so old!"

"That's not really very old at all," replied Agatha. "She's only half my age. And you, my dear, are only one fifth of her age."

"Really," replied Lydia with an expression of amazement on her face. "You mean that I have to be seven, five times over to get to be thirty five?"

"Exactly," said Agatha, amazed at her granddaughter's math skills. "Then you have to be thirty five, twice, to get to be my age."

"Wow,' said Lydia. “I have never thought about my age like that."

"You know, child, there are a lot of things that I have learned how to do over the years. I have kept on doing them because I enjoy doing them," said Agatha. "Then there are a whole collection of things that I have always had to do, but never really liked doing at all. Those are the things that I like to forget now. Someone else can do them."

"What about making cookies, Grandma?" Lydia waited patiently for her grandmother to answer.

"I'll tell you what. There's a good rule of thumb for making shortbread cookies. One portion of sugar, two of butter and three of flour. Think you can remember that?" asked Agatha. "It is a ratio of thirds: one, two, three." 

"Let's do it, Grandma," said Lydia, excitedly. "One, two, three. I will remember that forever."

"I taught that rule of thirds to your mom when she was about your age." said Agatha, with a smile. "She has never forgotten it." 

"Neither have you, Grandma."         

"It is almost February now. Maybe it is time to start making some Valentine's Day cookies instead? There are some red and white sprinkles in the cupboard."