As the daughter of an engineer,
I learned early on that there was
always a better way to do things.
Take for example the handles on
pots and pans. Always turned in
on the stove top and never out.
bumping into the handle of a
hot pan might lead to an accident.
Safety first. Good thing or curse?
Words out of my mouth
sound like my father and
mother. My husband, bless
his heart, reminds me of
what my father said when
he visited us from Colorado.
Before he loaded the
dishwasher with dirty dishes,
he would ask my husband:
I suppose there is only one
way to do this? My husband’s
affirmative answer brought
chuckles and smiles. Added
to that my husband would remark:
she always rearranges how I do it.
“She” was standing there listening
to the banter adding, of course, there
is only one way to do this, Dad.
Your way! You drove our mother
crazy too. I watched my father
using an old credit card as
a pan scraper before washing it
for our mother. As he pronounced the
“best way” to wash pans, I smiled
and demonstrated Mary Ann’s way.
I had sprayed the pan with Pam spray
prior to cooking. He watched me
in disbelief at the ease with which
I washed the pan using simply a
paper towel and swish of the hand.
The engineer in him advised
that he had taught us how
to think ahead. We were a
chip off the old block.
Of course he was right. He instructed
us with love. I wonder if I do
the same with my family? Their
lessons learned and passed on, I
await a better way from our children.
Actions have consequences. What
goes around, comes around. A chip
off the block and with a smile.
