Something About Cooking

I have often heard stories about mothers and grandmothers

teaching their children how to cook, most of them learned

at an early age. Mostly girls too.

I can’t recall men telling me they learned to cook from their

mothers and grandmothers. Many men, I won’t say all of them,

either let their women cook for them or they’ll often eat out.

Don’t get me wrong, I have known lots of men who are chef

level cooks, and they enjoy it too.

My mother was not a good cook, but she did what she could.

She was chronically ill when my brothers and I were children.

So, my dad when he was home on weekends did some cooking

to help out. But that ended when Mom and Dad divorced,

and Dad moved away.

My younger brother and I had payed attention to our Mom’s

cooking early on. And we knew our Dad could fix things like

hot dogs, potato chips and canned baked beans.

Our parents didn’t teach us how or what to cook per se,

but we learned the basics just by watching. If they could,

cook, we could do it too.

And so, when Mom was no longer able to cook, my younger

brother and I fixed most of our meals. My older brother who

was spoiled rotten because he had asthma as a child, did

very little cooking. He took care of himself, though.

He took after our dad and became very fond of hot dogs,

potato chips and canned baked beans. Oh, he was proficient

at opening cans of Chef Boyardee Ravioli and Spaghetti as

well. Of course dry cereal and bologna were always an option

on his menu too.

As adults of course, my brothers and I went our separate

ways and raised familys of our own. When I was married,

I often cooked meals for the family. And my younger brother

fancied himself as quite the chef magnifique.

My older brother and I haven’t been on speaking terms for

a number of years, but he stays in touch with our younger

brother. I’m fixing myself a pork roast for Christmas, I told

my younger brother over the phone one year. He was going

to smoke a turkey in the Weber Kettle, and is having his family

over.

Have you heard from our older brother lately, I asked him?

What’s he doing for the Holidays? Well, he answered, living

alone, he can pretty much do what he wants to do, you know.

He’s looking forward to his favorite annual treat, my younger

brother told me. Oh, what’s that, I asked? He snickered back,

canned Spam.

Is that it?

                                       -30-

Chris Hanch 5-30-2020