U was a tough letter for me in this whole “stories prompted by something food-related” theme.
Udon noodles? They trigger a memory but it’s not one that’s worth a story.
Upside down cake? I do know a good story about one… but it’s not mine to tell.
So I googled:
Uno’s Pizza? Good stuff but again, not a full story.
Ugli Pie? What is that? (Somebody needs to tell ME that story…)
Frankly, I was getting desperate… and then I saw this:
And I smiled.
It’s not a label found much in my cupboard anymore but when I was a kid, we stocked Underwood Deviled Ham the way some people hoard tuna fish. I can’t remember for sure if Mom particularly liked it but Dad sure did.
So sometimes on a Saturday, when Mom was off on one of her shopping expeditions and my much-older brother was off being too cool to hang out with his kid sister, lunchtime would be just me and Dad. He’d come in from working to take care of heating the soup and I would be in charge of making the sandwiches… the Underwood Deviled Ham sandwiches. We’d sit at the kitchen table to eat and talk, then he’d thank me and tell me I made a good sandwich, before heading back out to whatever project he was knee-deep in that day.
It’s funny, because Dad and I weren’t particularly close during my younger years (that came later, after Mom died) but he did his best to make time and memories where he could - and he succeeded.... With a little help from the Underwoods.
7 comments:
Hi Jz - lovely memories of your Dad ... and that 'devil' logo is just great to see ... cheers Hilary
What a great memory. Glad that the letter U worked out positively.
Funny how a lot of dads are like that -- when we are growing up, they are so busy trying to make a lliving the "memory moments" are very specific and based on certain things that become rituals.
What a sweet story!
I was actually closer to my dad when I was younger. As I've grown older, I understand my mom a lot better.
AtoZ-ing at Doesn't Speak Klingon
H-
I did surprise me, how seeing that logo blasted back things I’d forgotten.
Thanks!
B-
Thank you - I have to admit, I was sweating it out for a while there…
mm-
I had been thinking much the same thing as I wrote this, yes. Between his job, cars, yard, repairs, and building, most of my childhood memories contain the side notes of “Dad was [outside/away/in the basement] and…”
R-
Thank you.
I wish I could have gained an adult’s knowledge of my mom… but it might have meant I never really got to know Dad, so I suppose there’s some form of balance there.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory of your Dad and you Jz. You and I have a lot in common when it comes to our childhood years.
Feeling a kinship with you (even more so) after reading this post.
A-
Thank you, sunshine.
There *is* a something, isn't there? (Despite the whole "spider on the bridge" thing... ;-p)
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