My “DAD” the “Chef”
How many of us can say – My Dad is the best “Chef!” My Dad worked at some of the best restaurants here in Saint Louis, and he received his basic training in cooking while enlisted in the US Army. He said he was older than he was to enlist and was in luck to have been accepted.
As a little kid – the one thing that I always loved to have was called “Floating Island” – a puff of egg-whites whipped up in mounds to look like little islands sitting on top of a delicious custard. This was something as a kid – I would rather have than candy. As much as I have always enjoyed – I never tried to make. My guess is that – if you didn’t know how – you would stand the chance of burning the custard. So I just never attempted, but after looking at recipes – I just may try using a new recipe I found for the custard and will hope for excellent results.
What always amazed me was that when ever I would ask my Dad about a recipe – he could just tell me the list of ingredients and just how to make the item I was inquiring about – and if he was at my home – he would just make what I was asking about – knew the exact amounts and have everything going – no wasting of time looking up amounts and how or what to do.
It was so much fun for us kids to be seated around the kitchen table and watch “MY DAD” work magic with the food we all liked – and every so often – he would give one us a spoon of something good to lick off – and when he was making candy – he would take turns giving each of us a small amount of candy making in the “testing stage” called the “soft ball ” stage till it got to the “hard ball” stage and we were the best behaved kids – patiently waiting our turn to test – we would be ready to test – forever!
The “Floating Island” and the taste that I remember is calling for me to try. No matter what happens – I will have to eat my “mistakes” or I’ll be enjoying a real good memory – “Floating Islands” and hopefully the way “DAD” made for us!
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“Daddy loves “ME!”
One more remembrance of “DAD” – just have to let the world know that – to be with your “MOM” and “DAD” are the most important things in a child’s life!
As a small child I just could never understand why we had to go to the “Orphan Home”. That was the most miserable place to be when you have a MOTHER and FATHER that are alive.
When we were at the “Orphan Home” – and it was in “September” – getting near to being my “Birthday” – I had the surprise of my life! I received a birthday card and I do not remember of any one else ever receiving mail much less a “Birthday Card!”
This is the way they do it at the “Orphan Home.” The mail comes to you – care of the Orphan Home – the Mother Superior and your teacher – one of the nuns reads and inspects the mail. If there is something you should not know of and or see – it is so very nicely removed. You could be lucky to even get what you where suppose to get.
Anyway, when I came to class this day before “my birthday” – there is a card addressed to me and it is on “my desk” in the class room. I was so tickled to receive this piece of mail – and to see that – it was from my “DADDY!” I took it with me everywhere I went! It was the closest thing to being at home with my parents.
This card was so special because it was about me. The nursery rhyme all about “Mary – Mary so contrary – how does your garden grow… three or four pages of beautiful drawings and verses. This was something I wanted to keep forever – but in a “HOME” as this was – someone evidently wanted it so much , as to steal it from my locker.
I may not have the card any longer, but I will always have the memory in my heart. My “DADDY” loves me so much – he sent to me the very best!
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Thank You “DAD”
Since it is still the month to remember “DAD” just thought I would add a few more memories to the “pages of time.”
When I was just six (6) years of age , and the oldest of three children – I was the do for others and the number one “go-for” of the family. The house that we were living in had some “Honey Do Jobs” and with a hardware store within walking distance for me – you guessed right – I was the designated “go-for-it-er.” Some things, I could easily remember – but some things needed to be written down. And, since the store owner knew who we were – and now that I think about it – everybody ran a tab – so that payment was made later. (I never carried money with me.)
On these jobs – there was no time for me to walk – I had to run and hurry. Which brings me to the next memory of walking fast – every time I went with my DAD – I was doing a a half run-walk – just to keep up with him. Dad did three (3) stints in the Army – and he must have done a heck- of -a- lot of marching – he had the longest walk stride – so fast – that anyone walking with him , would be out of breath just trying to keep up with him.
I am not complaining but, rather am glad that I had to always go so fast when I was young – that kind of put me in training for getting, old. By walking fast then, now my body just naturally wants to go faster – walking or moving to do something. No sense in just “Lolly Gagging” and turning into a “Slowpoke!” When it came to my working for a living and having to take the bus or street-car – I’m grateful and thankful I was able to run fast enough to catch the up -coning bus or street-car. I still remember the street-cars here in St.Louis, they were fun!
Thanks “DAD” for seeing to it – that I moved in a hurry then to get where ever I needed!
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A “Blue Bird” with a Message!
The other day I started reading – The Prayer of Jabez Devotional Book. I first received this book as a gift with another book written by Bruce Wilkinson in July of 2006.
Good books are like good movies that you can read and watch more times than you can count. Like they say about movies – the first time you watch a movie – you just do not see half of what you thought you saw – and half of the movie did not make sense and you need to see it again and again. That’s so – with life – you really want to know – what it was – that you enjoyed so well?
The same goes for books, with me. Some books I have to have – in near by places – so that I know when I need special uplifting and encouragement – just to be mentally refreshed – I have the right book – right there – the best reading material – as handy as it can be!
Today – as I was reading “Day 18” – Power with Purpose – the line…If you want to see the promise in action, right then a “blue bird” hit the picture window with a dull thud – down – but for a moment – unconscious – regained momentum – landing on the near by porch rail! She looked at me and had a look – as if asking me ” why can’t – I come inside there with you?” I was asking “her” – “are you alright?” When “she” the bird – was confident of flying – off “she” went. Such an earth shaking mood to put me in – as I was reading “If you want to see…” – “is that an immediate answer to something or not?”
Anyway – I now have plenty of food for thought. I just love getting so “inspired ” as I read. Try reading this book if you have it, again – and if not, the library will have a copy. But, I like my own books as I have to write in them as I go along, and that’s for the next generation to read and , think about what I was thinking about at that point in time about the material.
Good books are the best of companions and always so close by and best of all – so inspiring!
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“Happy Fathers’ Day”
Fathers and Sons – Thank You! Today, we celebrate Fathers and remember to ask “Our Heavenly Father” to bless you in the most abundant and helpful way for your walk on earth!
Some verses in the “Bible” that I thought would apply today.
Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children are their fathers.
Proverbs 23:24,25,26 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice. And he that fathers a wise child will have joy of him. Let your father and your mother be glad. And let her that bore you rejoice. My son give me your heart; And let your eyes delight in my ways.
Just thought these verses were so right . Blessings come to those who seek the good words of the bible and pass these good words on to the next generations and – pass the blessings on from generation to generation! This, or words to that effect stick in my mind. And, it t is better to play the game of life correctly; we are on a journey on earth and our aim is to enjoy eternity with our “Creator” at the blessed end!
So, with the above in mind – every time I buy a game – what ‘s the first thing you have to do – that is if you want to learn to “WIN” the game! You start by “reading the Instructions!” So, the way I understand our “game of life” – our instructions come in the book called the “Holy Bible.”
“Happy Father’s Day” to all those in my family and every Father – celebrating or not! God Bless You!
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Just Being With “DAD”
Remembering my “DAD!” Every kid needs to have their “Father” in their home and to be an active part of all the things going on. In the early 1940’s – we had just moved to the house in North St.Louis – the area where my parents were an active part of the Democratic party.
Since my “DAD” was able to make a lot of electrical stuff work – where there were large outdoor “political meetings” – he was very useful in emergency situations!
On one such meeting coming up – my “DAD” had all kinds of electrical wiring and equipment and microphones and stuff to assemble and test out for an upcoming event. So what better place , but our back yard to work on all this stuff to see what works and what he can use?
We were all out in the back yard, my “MOM” had a basket of corn that needed the ears of corn shucked and we kids were helping. Then , my “DAD” needed someone to say something in one of the “MIC” – someone to do some voice testing and so, I volunteered to help. Also – I was asked to get something so gave the “MIC” to my “MOTHER” – so she could say something? When she started to say something – she screamed – she was almost electrocuted – she was sitting in a metal lawn chair and right on the damp ground. Not knowing immediately what the problem was – she started to say something – again! That was the end of it!
Just that small part of the talking test on the microphone – that was all the excitement that day for us! The rest of “My DAD’s” testing was done in the basement!
The most important part of this – was that we were all together and having “fun” – until some unfortunate accident had to happen. No one knows what to expect in life – but there was never a dull moment in our lives!
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