Let’s start first with parents, the usual and unusual. Of course there are the birth parents, who provide nature and nurture and try to mold you into the person they would have liked you to be, if you were born a boy.
Of course grandpa was there in the summer and re-roped our 150′ cliff dive down to the creek with hand-holds every foot. Yes, I was the eldest son until my little brother was born seven years later.
It took me until now to realize that for years I’ve had “extra” parents and mentors and never put it all together until now.
G & J taught me two different things. G taught me how to think and to question authority. J had an artistic bent that probably sent me to art history classes in college.
Col. B and Elsa were always there for me in high school, and Elsa taught me to cook exotic things like eggplant. I now have her recipes in my mother’s old recipe box. Daughter Julie and I were best friends and try to keep in touch.
Capt. A.J. and wife Joan are still my other parents. He married us over ten years ago and we were at his interment at Annapolis. It was only fitting that Sec Nav came out that day because she not only got a 21 gun salute for her husband, she got a 21 cannon salute and parade and got to meet Sec Nav and got a coin for her husband’s 35 years of service to the USNavy.
At my age I don’t think I’ll have any more parents, but I did gain some good friends along the way, including my in-laws and now brother John. Also I’ve finally gotten myself a grandmother, Nanny, who now counts me as one of the “grands” which is grandkids and not greats and beyond.
As to mentors my first was Mrs. Johnson in 2nd grade. All my music teachers were terrific including Mrs. Smith, Mrs. P., Mrs. H. Also Mr. B who taught me math so I could understand it. After he explained it, I could see it and it all made sense.
High school it was Breezy (rip) and I hated my French teacher but she was good for me. I loved my coach and was captain but she should have pushed me more.
College, I had two priests who shaped my academic life. One taught me about art and the other about life. I was a blank slate when I got to college and after a year of floundering am glad I met them both. Art is gone although I have taken up the torch and have tried to see nearly every slide he showed me from France to Greece to Italy and Scotland and London and here in these United States.
Life is there and it turns out my college degree may even help my husband’s career. Husband calls it “soft skills” but with years of consulting we may have something here. In my band as a 12 year-old, we sang “Teach Your Children.” Now you can do that and teach your parents well….. Dee
Cooking with Dee 