As I age and gain wisdom I remember the teachers outside the classroom like two Mrs. H, one my piano teacher and the other my ballet instructor.
Then there were neighbors and smart folks who came along and were neighbors or friends of my parents. The G’s, we’re still in touch and he taught me words and made me think and she inspired what little artistic side I have that has been turned into cooking.
When I was 16 I was sent to Florida to supervise my little brother and sister. I also helped out another little girl in gymnastics. After she performed for her dad, he asked me what I wanted to be. I was 16, I didn’t know yet. He said doctors and lawyers only deal with problems, architects deal with dreams. That advice has resonated for years.
Of course family is there, especially my aunts and uncles. The couple who “adopted” me 19 years ago taught me a lot, and he married us and they taught me kindness. My two development professional friends, R and K, imparted a lifetime of professional knowledge and led me towards wisdom.
There is time to give credit to nemeses for building structure and spirit. May they be situated at the lowest level of Dante’s inferno for eternity. But yes, by their awful acts upon me they did enhance my education.
My husband has taught me to not take things personally, there’s always an intellectual reasoning and one must figure it out and act appropriately. That means don’t cry, figure out where they’re coming from and why and deal with it.
E from work years ago. He was so calm and understated and sat next to me for a couple of years, having taken 1/10 of my workload. He took on more than that. He was a vet who worked KP stateside in his final weeks of duty after Vietnam after refusing to go to Chicago to fire at citizens at the 1968 Democratic Convention. He taught me patience and to be strong in my beliefs. Heaven knows what he saw over there. I saw him for more hours a day than his wife did and he never said a word about it. RIP, E.
My in-laws are a constant source of information and support. J tells me all about the Civil War and M and I cook for three days and barely run into each other as we dance around her kitchen. Sorry, it is termed the War of Northern Aggression. Both have taught determination and a commitment to doing things right.
J and B. They taught me joy. They’ve been partners for years and I’ve always asked them if I could be the flower girl at their wedding.
H and P, another couple who taught me how to make a good friend of an ornery curmudgeon who is a great writer (sorry H) and perseverance in trying to make a point to the government.
CW for legal info and humor. He’s the most cynical man I’ve ever met and I love him dearly and will send him red vines and Toblerone any day.
Of course my parents come into play. Who else could teach a kid to lick and ice cream cone or sip milk from a straw? My parents taught me hard work and being a person others can count upon. Another is my brother who taught me that permission was not in the dictionary.
Then there’s my other brother, the brother-in-law that had no use for me until I was of use to him, helping with his kids over huge family holidays. We are in touch regularly and he calls me “sis” which is more than my blood brother does, he just says Yo Dee Ho Dee. Do not go there or I’ll quit 26 posts short of 3K! J has taught perseverance and faith.
Not teachers, this is a real exercise. Everyone I meet teaches me something and I try to learn something new every day. Let’s call this a start of a beautiful friendship (Casablanca). Buona notte, Dee
Cooking with Dee 