At some point when we were living in PA, Laura & Harry came to visit. They left Sara with us & went to some place in New Jersey that they'd always wanted to see--gardens, I think. It was a dreary, rainy interlude, perhaps stretching over two days. When they returned, I said, "Did you have a good time?" L. said, "We always have a good time." They handed me a whole fish wrapped in newspaper. I said, "We're having hamburgers for dinner. I already planned it." Harry was disappointed. "But we brought you this FRESH FISH!" (Straight from the Atlantic Ocean, he implied.) Laura, noticing my distress said, "We are having hamburgers, because Patsy's mother always gave her & Leroy a bowl of tomato soup for lunch, w/ a peanut butter sandwich." For once, Harry was at a loss. I am sure in his mind, he was reflecting on my utter lack of flexibility. But Laura understood. When I had a plan, I followed thru on it. Plus, I had never cooked a WHOLE fresh fish before. It definitely posed a challenge. Harry, living on the shores of Lake Chatauqua, had coped with whole fresh fish many times. He didn't realize that we inlanders were inexperienced in such matters. Yesterday I said to my husband, "I am feeling guilty about that fish. I SHOULD have cooked it. . . . But on the other hand, I had been coping with Sara for two days. Hamburgers were easier." He said, "Don't be t oo hard on yourself. You did fine." I cooked the fish the next day. It really wasn't hard--just threw it in the oven on a flat pan with some bread crumbs & parsley over it. OK, Harry, you were right, I was wrong--not for the first time!

s

15 years ago

wait a minute now...i'm all sweetness and light. i'm sure i was no trouble at all! ;)