Under the Wire

OK, I know this is a weird title for a column, even for me! As I sat at my desk cranking out a few “Under The Wires” Sue called from her office a few feet down the hall to announce, “it is time to eat.” always on the lookout for a new topic it hit me, “I’ll bet nobody has written a column about an activity everyone engages in at least three times a day (for me at least), every single day of their life! Here goes the first ever attempt at it. We may all be about to learn why no one has ever done such a thing.

For most of us there are three meals to be consumed each and every day, breakfast, lunch and supper. The first, breakfast is easy. It’s the first one of the day, usually eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee (optional). The other two, lunch and supper are the problem. A third rather ambiguous meal slips in, dinner. Dinner? When do we eat it?

Growing up my mother fixed dinner every day at noon, attended by family, visitors, part time help and anyone else with a mid-day empty stomach.

Later, in college, a friend invited me to her parents house for dinner. Tired of my own version of food, I quickly accepted. Arriving on time at noon, I was surprised to find no meal. My friends family seemed just as surprised to see me!

My friend quietly took me aside to explain at their house, dinner was an evening meal. That was news to me! I hung around anyway, her father taking me out on the porch to interview the country bumpkin his daughter had brought home.

Years later God became worried about my lack of a balanced diet, the result of my haphazard cooking skills, and sent me the beautiful lady who would mold me into a well-nourished, somewhat respectable human being, the eternal love of my life, Sue.

She cooks so darn good, I don’t even think about whether she is serving me breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper or a bowl of dog food. With the exception of the dog food, I devour every delicious bite put in front of me. We invite our ranch help to join us at our noon dinner table and the few city folks who stop by for dinner in the evening, after cocktails. Invariably, Sue’s kitchen will smell so good they all have pulled up to the table before the entire invitation has been spoken.

Still can’t swear if we are having lunch or whatever. It tastes great and always enough for seconds.

If you’re ever in the area, stop by. We’ll share dinner, no matter what time it is!