Let's Eat!

Image by c1ph3ril via Flickr

I like to cook. Correction; I LOVE to cook! I have always enjoyed cooking for my family and friends. Jason is an accomplished musician, James is an athlete and Jared is fantastic on stage. When each of my boys are good at something I hear the applause or cheers from the audience or spectators, it make me sooooooooo proud. When I prepare a meal and I hear people say how much they like it, it is like I am on stage getting an applause or making the winning basket and hearing the crowd go wild. Even if my guest don't say anything about the food but I see them reach for seconds and end up cleaning their plate, I know that they enjoyed the meal.

So, do I cook just for the accolades? Sometimes yes, but it didn't start out that way. When my boys were young cooking for my family was a way for me to be nurturing. Knowing that I was giving them good food to eat that would keep them healthy and help them grow to become ever thing they want to be, was a big motivator. Seeing them clean their plates and ask for more was just icing on the cake. (pun intended) We didn't have a lot of money so we couldn't take extravagant trips to exotic places. We did live in a big house with all the latest in technologies. I never got into football or basket ball. Even though I enjoyed music and playing a few instruments, I was never as accomplished as Jason in this. And even though I did some acting when I was in high school, I was never the performer Jared is. What I was good at was cooking and making meal time a good time. A time where we could sit, talk, laugh, discuss and explore thoughts and ideas. A time where we could unite and feel included. My two youngest boys and their wives still come over on Sundays for a meal and sometimes some games. (My oldest lives in another town about 6 hours away)These are special visits for me and my wife. We cherish these times and look forward to them every week. And of course every time we get together there is food. Sometimes a lot, sometimes just a snack, sometimes exotic, sometimes simple, but always flavorful and seasoned with love. I'm Dad -- and I'm just saying.