Scott

It's sorta neat when I have to go through the protestations that follow the offer of sending me along my merry way with a "care" package.

At this time of year, it happens almost everywhere I go. At least everywhere a husband and wife reside. Some of my single friends are NO help at all, and I guess it follows that I return that hospitality.  Not because both sides wouldn't LIKE to do it. We just always order takeout, so the extras naturally stay with the host. An unwritten, unspoken rule of sorts, for the young and useless... umm... you know what I mean. If there is no BBQ possible (snow and ice), then there is no at-home cooking for me!

BTW, what does "care" package MEAN, anyway?

Anyways, home cooking is a regular occurrence these days, with those "care" packages being put together for me. I go through the "oh, don't be silly, I eat very well. (which I do, just not "home-cooked" very often in the winter).

Usually the people know exactly my favorite foods, and fill the package with my favs. But the odd place that doesn't know me well will give me a sampling of ALL the dishes, which is probably the "thing" to do, but for which I must hide my disappointment at having things like cooked broccoli, squash, carrots, etc. taking up space that could be inhabited by my favs.

So it's taken me a couple of years to perfect this. I NOW take a date to people's places that I don't know that well. After we leave, when I split the "care" package between the two of us, I GIVE HER ALL THE FOODS that are nutritious. Thankfully, I very seldom hear an argument!

I suffer with "the rest"... (***drooools***)

Naturally, I TRY to go it alone to all family and long-time friends places that are serving me dinner. 

What, share the "GOOD STUFF"??!!

When I was five years old my one aunt was in the habit of buying me something "special" that I hadn't "asked" for, for my Christmas present. My mother knew I was not interested in clothes, as I HAD LOTS OF THOSE, so the beautiful, expensive sweater that my aunt bought was sure to get an adverse reaction from me. It seems I HAD a habit of speaking exactly what was on my mind, despite my having been punished for being rude from day one.

I was clearly told to say "Thank you very much for the ...", no matter  what it was.

I ripped open the packaging, saw it was a sweater, and said, "Thank you very much for the sweater Aunt B.", and then looked at Mom and said, "But it isn't a Truck, IS IT MOM?!!"

So I'm a spoiled little brat. But I just paid off my sizable student loan, even though I didn't even have to even HAVE a student loan (as in parents wanted to pay, but I didn't want that "influence"). I did it by taking on a job that was brutal in it's hours, and difficult in that I was the only certified person out of the 120 people that worked on it. And THAT part of it was as hard to deal with as any other.

But we got through it. And the bonus was worth the sacrifice. My Mom's expression, and her inability to speak sorta shocked me at first. In your typical "guy thing", I asked what was wrong, as she had started to accumulate water around her eyes at the "news" of my loan being paid off and my car free and clear too. As soon as I said it, I realized it had to be Dad she was thinking about. He had been happy to see me take on the responsibility of paying for my education, even though Mom wanted me to allow them to pay for it. He wasn't cheap. He just believed in me.

I know that the SAME pressure isn't there for someone who has that sort of backing if things don't work out, compared to the person coming from a household with limited funds. But there is still pressure to do what you say you will do. Pride is involved as well.

Aside from that, I can definitely say that I'm happy that THAT part of my employment "contract" has been fulfilled.

And if you're still with me, let me wish you a 2008 that fulfills every wish and dream that you have!!

Peace

Scott