August 11, 2012

• OLD FOLKS ROCK!!!

      Oh yeah, talk to me baby!!!

   

      I must say that I totally admire my wife. She was up early this morning baking her famous banana cake with butter icing. She started slow cooking a large roast and then cleaned and set aside all the veggies for cooking later. She made a pitcher of ice tea for the adults and one of lemon aide for the grand yunguns. All on schedule, she then went about cleaning the house with emphasis on the bathrooms. By noon she was finished and was just about done setting the dinning room table.

      Our kids, along with their kids, starting rolling in about that time. The grand kids formed lines in front of me and Grandma so they could tell us about something they had accomplished that week or maybe showing off a new toy or hair clasp. The house was wafting with wonderful aromas of a cooking roast, homemade dinner rolls and finished off with just a hint of banana. The women all mustered in the kitchen and started the prep work. Sharon was mashing five pounds of cooked potatoes and then whipped them until they peaked velvet smooth. Meg and Linda were removing the cooked vegetables from the stove top and filling serving bowls.

      The grand kids, seven of them, stood at the perimeter of the kitchen watching. They knew this was a KID FREE zone and were well aware of the consequences. As the kids watched, two of the Dads joined them as they also were aware of the MALE FREE restrictions also. They all stood and watched, much like a hungry pride of young dingoes. As the bowls and platters were shuttled to the dinning table, all the women made room for Grandma to make her famous ’pot roast gravy’. This one entree, some have said, served with but a crust of bread, could keep a soul alive for weeks. Grandma’s gravy……words spoken in reverence.

      Soon, all were seated and little seven year old Cindy gave the blessing as she had rehearsed it all morning at home….. “bless all foods and make us all good and always. Amen God.” Grandma began to tear up. Quickly, serving spoons and forks were like fencing sabers over the steaming platters of food. Once everyone’s plate was packed, the ‘chalice’ of Grandma’s gravy was carefully passed around. The gluttony began and soon afterwards followed by banana cake. Later, all the fella’s sat around, shouted and critiqued the first pre season game of football on TV. The kids were outside taking turns crying and the mom’s were doing KP in the kitchen. After the game, Grandma cut up the rest of the cake and filled ‘take home’ baggies for all. Hugs were made and tired children were shouldered up. Soon our big house was quiet. Grandma was tired…..very tired, but happy.

      The sun was going down so I lit a single candle in our darkening den and put on an old ZZ Top CD. I went out into the garage and returned with an old coffee can. From the can I rolled a nice ‘hog’ joint for the two of us. A few minutes later, as she exhaled the blue gray smoke, she said life was really good. I agreed. We had three grown children,….two were conceived at different rock concerts and the third in the lavatory of Delta flight 352, out of Atlanta in 1975. They had all grown up with good judgment and values. Well educated with professional careers now, they had often encouraged us to allow them the expense of sending us to a fancy resort so that we could finally have fun and adventure in our lives. Poor sheltered us.

      I took a solid toke on the herb and as I deep stoked it, I handed it over to my lady and she did the same. Soon the ‘buzz cloud’ floated overhead and she laid her head on my shoulder. “The gravy needed more salt,” I whispered. “I thought it sucked,” she replied.

   

   

   

  　

   

  • 10:16 pm
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