Lessons From a Chicken

Just a little memory for tonight. It has been too long since I have had the time to sit and write. However, tonight I want to share a little smile that came to me this evening. It all came while cutting up a cooked, whole chicken. This little bird was enough for the three of us with a little left over. It smelled wonderful. It looked delicious. Yet all I could do was laugh to myself.

During the 1976, my father had to take off the entire summer due to recovering from surgery. Unlike today, back in those day, when one had double by-pass surgery, you did not get to go back to work in six weeks. They gave you plenty of time to heal due to the surgery being so much more invasive than it is today.

As a kid, I remember knowing that my dad was having something big done. I remember visiting him in the hospital after the surgery (my brother and I were yelled at by the doctor for the amount of salt we put on fries). When you are only 10, your dad being at a point of being close to death does not equate. He was going to have surgery, and then he would come home and life would continue. The bonus was that he got to stay home with us, and our family took a trip that still brings me so many smiles.

So what does a chicken have to do with this summer?

That summer we took a trip north. My Dad decided to take the family through Canada. We saw Montreal, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward’s Island. We traveled up and down Magnetic Hill. We traveled through so many areas of which I one day hope show our daughter. We hooked up the trailer to the suburban and off we went.

So on my 11^th birthday, after having traveled for so many days and eaten out of the trailer, my Mom and Dad promised to take us out to celebrate my birthday. I was looking forward to the evening out and trying some new types of food. I was told that in New Brunswick, one got to pick their own lobster from a tank and have it prepared especially for you. The only hitch was that Dad wanted us to stop by some unmet relatives and visit with them for a spell. Oh well, the lobsters were not going anywhere.

I am sad to say that I do not remember the relatives’ names. I can remember their faces. I can remember their apartment. It was a small little apartment. I believe it was the first time that I realized how lucky my family was. We were not wealthy by any means, but here was a large family living in a small apartment making ends meet. While this was not the purpose of meeting the relatives, it is certainly something that has stuck with me. I think the thing that really stayed with me is the fact that my relative, while not having a lot, were happy. They loved, laughed, and enjoyed life. It really made me wonder if we needed the next gadget.

So there we were. Our family of six with another five of my relatives getting to know one another. As children, we sat in the living room and listened to my dad and the relatives talk and reminisce. We got to know the younger relatives. We learned of a cousin who we would never meet. Our cousin told us of spots to go to as tourists and where to avoid. It was a really nice time. I think the best part was meeting relatives on my father’s side. Up until then, we really had not met many since he was an only child.

Finally, it was getting close to dinnertime. My Dad started to make the niceties to get us out of the apartment and on to dinner. At that point, the eldest cousin, being a gracious host, asked us to stay for dinner. The aroma filled the apartment all afternoon long. My father looked over to me with that look. Anyone who has been a kid knows “that” look. The look was half-apologetic and half “there is nothing we can do.” I nodded in acknowledgment. I knew that I would have dinner out the next day.

Then my cousin opened the oven door. In the oven was a small, whole chicken. To call this a chicken is actually complimenting it. In my mind’s eye, I imagine it more the size of a pigeon. My dad took one look at the cooking bird and then back at his four (three of them teens) boys. He stifled a laugh. I then became his excuse.

My dad did a great look of “Oh my God, I forgot.” He then explained that it was my birthday, and then he went on to explain that they wanted to take me out to celebrate. In reality, he feared what would happen when four hungry boys tried to eat their portion of the hummingbird. Our cousin accepted the excuse and even offered places to go.

The final part of the day occurred at a nice restaurant in New Brunswick. My parents chose a restaurant that sat right on the Tidal Bore. My dad explained how at some time during the evening, we were going to able to watch this BIG wave come up river. I will admit that this was my introduction to real hush puppies. I just could not send a lobster to its death.

My dad snuck over to the hostess at some point to let them know that it was my birthday. The staff brought cake and serenaded me. As an eleven year-old far from home, this really made my day. Then at the end of the song, just as the last note finished, a patron shouted here comes the bore. The excitement in the place rose. We were sitting next to a window. We pressed our faces to the windows. Other eaters pushed in to see as well.

As we stood waiting, somebody noticed that a dog stood in the middle of the basin in which the tidal bore would soon be rushing through. I freaked thinking that I was about to witness the end of this little four-footed creature. We waited. Then it came, a wave that everyone had talked about. In my mind, I expected a five-foot wall of water to come rushing through. Instead, this three-inch wave came through. I am not sure if it even went over the entire paw of the dog. I was both elated for the dog and disappointed in nature.

Just the same, we sat back down and ate our cake.

So there you go. I stood today cutting up a chicken. Something people do every day. Today however, this chicken brought a rush of memories. The fun of meeting family. The understanding of just how well we had it even though we didn’t understand. The memories that my mom and dad made sure that we had to look back on so many years later. Memories for us to cherish now that they are no longer with us.

I think I needed this reminder tonight. We are now on spring break. I think the chicken was telling me to do the same for our daughter. The bird was telling me to make sure I take time during this week to give our daughter memories that can be recalled long after I am gone. Perhaps it won’t be triggered in her cutting of a chicken. Maybe it will come with a snowfall, baking a cake, watching a silly movie, or just looking at the stars. Just as long as we give her the time now to build those memories to be recalled later.

So much from a little bird.

Thanks for meandering with me tonight.