Throw in a “highball”or two!

Melancholy and Marvelous

My mother loved FOOD- shopping, unpacking, organizing the refrigerator,preparing, cooking, eating, wrapping leftovers, eating, cleaning out the refrigerator eating some more. She studied food and became a dietItian.
Studied some more and with her masters degree was titled nutritionist. Then got an M.S.W. In social work at the age of 50. I think she wanted to figure out through research why food was always top of mind.

I relied on radishes cleaned and in Tupperware with French dressing as an after school snack. Sometimes I opted for Buitoni Raviolis, yum as I think about it now.

I waited around and did homework until dinner. I came to expect something breaded, something fried with Le Seur Peas and a baked sweet potato. I looked forward to broiled baby lamp chops- I still do. The melody lingers
on. Snowballs, hostess cupcakes, twinkies, drakes ring dings, yodels -yum and yum. Euphoric gastronomic recall. She saved the Lindt Chocolate for her card games.

As the culinary seed was planted I waited for it to sprout into my type of cuisine. I too love food. However everything else around it feels equally as appealing. I have an extensive salt and pepper shaker collection.
Varied, and meaningful. Collected from places I’ve been, antiquing and from gifts. Some are antiques, several glass, some ceramic. Betty Boop and Harley Davidson sets hang out in my cabinet together. Dishes, silverware and amber glass represent my treasured
items. Flowers and table settings add to the allure of my meal. My collection of soupcons (fancy serving ladles) makes me smile.

Shopping for the ingredients and researching who has the best mozzarella and filet mignon a past time. Aligning the seats for comfort and space adds to the canvas. I make sure the creases in the napkins are well pressed
and the water glass is properly situated. I light candles and get dressed. I then set up the ice on the bar and cut lemon slices. All the time this is going on I have the oven on, the flames on low and I check my ” something breaded, something fried.” I learned
from The Best.

You bring us up with predictability. Always there to add to a good time. You have helped to make the simplest events happenings. In big celebrations you know how to join a room and get everyone up there doing the hokey pokey. When we’ve needed you most you came through. It was clearly love at first sight. You are our go to as you ask nothing in return. You listen without judgement and give us the benefit of the doubt. When we are together you are boss. Our biggest responsibility when we meet up is not to fall or make fools of ourselves. Anytime we’ve dared to abuse you, we woke up with extreme regrets and vowed to never do it again. Whatever we adorn you with is just fine. A lemon, an olive, you’re cool, you know who you are. At times when we have been fickle, you waited and knew your appeal would win out. Thank you for adding a dimension to our lives, so trustworthy and reliable. And-you know what, you were right in the bigger picture way. The line between what is meant to be and what was not is really very obvious. When Plan A doesn’t work out, become the rock star of Plan B and keep your eye on the prize. Make it a good Monday and tonight at Donahues make ours straight up and dirty. No rocks! Thanks Vodka!