Exit Only
“Because once you depart from this one-way road of life, there is just no getting back on.”
Like in Fatal Attraction?
I think April stirs up greed: for the warmth, and the length of days and … let’s face it, the loot. What I’m remembering today is a greed-related chapter from my parenting days.My girls, seen here at the time, were nine and eleven and at the tail end of one very long day they were fighting. The younger one was looking for just the right spot under her pillow to put a tooth for a Tooth Fairy I seriously doubted she still believed in, when her big sister, perhaps suspecting the scam of feigned belief, suddenly winged a bean-bag at her, causing that tiny chip of enamel to fly from her hand.Try as we might, we just couldn't find it, which caused her to send up a wail like an air-raid siren."But the Tooth Fairy will find it and leave the money," I assured her in my best June Cleaver way."No she won’t!” lamented the child."Oh, but she will," I cooed on. "Because the Tooth Fairy is like an angel..."But she cut me off. "She WON'T!" she screeched again, eyes now rolling with panic."Well now Annie," I said, in a badly misguided appeal to reason, "The Tooth Fairy… well you know there ISN’T any Tooth Fairy, really. People’s parents…" It was horrible. I couldn’t seem to stop myself, even as the child’s eyes widened. “You see it’s like with the Easter Bunny...""YOU MEAN THERE ISN’T ANY EASTER BUNNY EITHER?" she bellowed.As I say: my biggest parenting error ever. And I see by what I feel telling the tale, I’m not over it yet.I'm pretty sure she is, however. She went to culinary school between college and grad school with the result that once again this holiday she is doing the cooking for the Whole Darn Family and at 2pm we’re set to sit down to: Morel Mushroom Tarts and Semolina Gnocchi with Pea Puree and Burrata, a main course of Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Cream, Chicken Baked in Bread (whatever that is) Asparagus and Leek Bread Pudding…. And oh yes, for the pasta course? BRAISED RABBIT over Pappardelle with Fava Beans, Black Trumpets and Ricotta.So maybe kids survive their parenting after all. We can only pray.Anyway, enjoy this day, all you great people, for whatever reason it might be holy to you!
