T’is Fluff Season

(L) J.P. Monnin celebrates (R) Don Durkee’s 99th birthday having lunch at Tedesco Country Club, Marblehead, Massachusetts (photo credit : J.P. Monnin)

Don Durkee passed away earlier this month. He was 100 years old. You may wonder how this news is relevant to you. The answer is, his life-story may be a nostalgic part of your life-story.

The Dartmouth grad was President of the company that manufactures FLUFF, the iconic confection of many wickedly delicious memories.

For decades Fluffernutter sandwiches have been staples of lunch boxes, school cafeterias and kitchen-counter snacking. The humble comfort-food, like it’s purveyor are evocative of simple pleasures; times with friends, family, and unassuming satisfactions.

The stuff of Fluff’s marshmallow yumminess is a whip of sugar, egg whites, corn syrup and vanilla-ish extract. Spread on white bread with peanut butter the fluff-a-licious-ness of the combo is a Massachusetts legend. Rightfully, Fluff holds a place in our personal memory banks and American history.

Legend has it Paul Revere’s, (3x’s removed) great granddaughter, Emma Curtis, served ‘Liberty Sandwiches’,  an early version of Fluffernutt-i-ness to make ends meet during WWI.  Former First Lady of Massachusetts, Ann Romney, included an homage to Fluffernutters in her cookbook, “Romney Family Table“. And, to stay emotionally grounded, NASA astronaut Sunni Williams of Needham, ate the mashable marvel in space.

Crust-to-crust the classic ratio of peanut butter to fluff may not be on the MAGA list of preferred sandwiches, but there’s no denying the value of slowing down to enjoy an occasional indulgence.

Those that knew Don Durkee best remember him for his Naval Service in WWII, love of golf, sailing, and skiing. A volunteer at heart he was also dedicated to helping people with developmental and physical disabilities become fully integrated into their communities.

This recipe for success served him and others well for 100 years.

So, if you’re feeling frantic with a long list of holiday to-do’s “She” suggests adding a little FLUFF to your season. The pleasure of it’s signature gooiness is the simple stuff memories are made of. Indulge yourself and take a big bite of nostalgia.