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Crisis maybe over / Salute.
Jul. 28th, 2010 11:35 pmCrisis mode is probably over. We find out for sure tomorrow, but we've done everything we can do. So, we wait. Not going into detail, but... it was a thing.
Mostly, a friend of mine reminded me of one of my grandparents, and I kinda wanted to do a quick writeup about someone I cared about who died -way- before I realized what that meant. My grandpa Bill, I was never sure about his last name, was seriously awesome. A retiree in Florida, which meant he had an orange tree in his front yard and really good cable TV.
Grandpa Bill was the guy who introduced me to the idea that eating could be pleasurable as well as fun. After we met for the first time... for the first time! We sat down and I looked at him awkwardly and he eyed me. And started in with "What foods do you like?" That was what was important to him. Not particularly my hobbies or my interests.
Most of what I remember is a blur because I was so young, but I clearly remember him in a greek restaurant, pointing a finger and near-bellowing "MY GRANDSON IS HUNGRY. HE HAS NEVER EATEN SPINACH PIE. YOU WILL GET THIS RIGHT."
I ate at more different kinds of places that trip. Spanish, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Chinese... I don't think we ate -in- once that trip. And he was very passionate. "You like that? Why? Do you know what's in it? Do you know how they make it?" Of course I didn't, so he got to explain.
This introduced me to two things: Food, obviously, as something to enjoy. Also, hot-blooded passion. He was very.. .theatrical. I think he liked having someone to explain things to and introduce to new things. ( "I... don't know what any of these ARE." I said, looking at a menu at the Japanese place. "That doesn't matter." he said firmly. "When it's in your mouth, you'll know what it is and you'll know if you want it back in there.")
I think I could've gotten used to being an eater-in-training.
Then we went back to Maryland, and aside from a few very brief visits I never saw him again, and he died eventually.
Today, though. Today I went out and I ate a cheddar/bacon burger served on a giant soft pretzel bun. Today I have a box of noodles in my house with names like Chapghetti and Bibim Men. Today when I go out and eat, I look for the most interesting, over-the-top thing on the menu that I've never eaten before, and go "This looks ridiculous. I'll have it!"
And today I'm big and fat, yeah. But I'm big and fat and happy. So it's been a long time coming, but... Thanks, Grandpa Bill. You were like a really old Go Nagai hero, and I'm pretty sure you would've punched some fuckers OUT if they had gotten that spinach pie wrong. M'gonna slurp some noodles in your memory, and try this "sriracha" sauce on them to see what it is, and to see if I want it in my mouth.
Mostly, a friend of mine reminded me of one of my grandparents, and I kinda wanted to do a quick writeup about someone I cared about who died -way- before I realized what that meant. My grandpa Bill, I was never sure about his last name, was seriously awesome. A retiree in Florida, which meant he had an orange tree in his front yard and really good cable TV.
Grandpa Bill was the guy who introduced me to the idea that eating could be pleasurable as well as fun. After we met for the first time... for the first time! We sat down and I looked at him awkwardly and he eyed me. And started in with "What foods do you like?" That was what was important to him. Not particularly my hobbies or my interests.
Most of what I remember is a blur because I was so young, but I clearly remember him in a greek restaurant, pointing a finger and near-bellowing "MY GRANDSON IS HUNGRY. HE HAS NEVER EATEN SPINACH PIE. YOU WILL GET THIS RIGHT."
I ate at more different kinds of places that trip. Spanish, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Chinese... I don't think we ate -in- once that trip. And he was very passionate. "You like that? Why? Do you know what's in it? Do you know how they make it?" Of course I didn't, so he got to explain.
This introduced me to two things: Food, obviously, as something to enjoy. Also, hot-blooded passion. He was very.. .theatrical. I think he liked having someone to explain things to and introduce to new things. ( "I... don't know what any of these ARE." I said, looking at a menu at the Japanese place. "That doesn't matter." he said firmly. "When it's in your mouth, you'll know what it is and you'll know if you want it back in there.")
I think I could've gotten used to being an eater-in-training.
Then we went back to Maryland, and aside from a few very brief visits I never saw him again, and he died eventually.
Today, though. Today I went out and I ate a cheddar/bacon burger served on a giant soft pretzel bun. Today I have a box of noodles in my house with names like Chapghetti and Bibim Men. Today when I go out and eat, I look for the most interesting, over-the-top thing on the menu that I've never eaten before, and go "This looks ridiculous. I'll have it!"
And today I'm big and fat, yeah. But I'm big and fat and happy. So it's been a long time coming, but... Thanks, Grandpa Bill. You were like a really old Go Nagai hero, and I'm pretty sure you would've punched some fuckers OUT if they had gotten that spinach pie wrong. M'gonna slurp some noodles in your memory, and try this "sriracha" sauce on them to see what it is, and to see if I want it in my mouth.
