Hi, heyheymse!
*High-fives* Smiley. I've been badgering wife to experience Black Friday at Time Square for years but have always been met with chilly responses. Maybe I'll do it next year by myself. <dream mode>I know tons of single girls go there and give unbelievable treats to single guys.</dream mode>
I've just come back from a Filipino grocery but their eggrolls were long sold out. They sold me some shrimp fritters instead. It was good but I oughta be there a few hours earlier to taste it fleshier and be able to buy their acclaimed rice noodles.
Okay, Southerner speaks. Granny's speeches are in purple and I've been trying to give them some southern flavors:
<Setting: Kitchen in an apartment in NYC. Arkansan granny has been preparing dishes of catfish snacks with a couple of temp helpers. Granddaughter MC walks into the kitchen. Some family friends who were there earlier have left.>
...A faint pecan scent whiffs in the air and a bottle of Jim Beam is set near the stove...
“They’ve left,” Granny says. “They’re all working today. Know what’s next?”
I smile at her. “Bourbon glazed catfish and toasted pecans?”
“She’s good,” [the helper] says.
Granny chuckles and takes a deep breath. “Well, I wish we’d more time together.” <I've tried substituting "well" with "Sho ‘nuff" but it's not really accurate and doesn't reflect granny's mood as good--they weren't close in the past as granny had wished. They're coming together for MC's father's funeral.>
“We will. I promise,” I say and give her another smile, then follow another friend into the family room.
---
[MC's 3½-yo half-brother] scurries into the kitchen (from a street trip) and gives Granny a big cookie. “Maw Maw, this for you.”
Granny takes the cookie and puts it on a dish, then wipes his face [smeared with chocolate and cream] with her apron.
“What about your grampa?”
Baby bro looks into his bakery bag. “Yeah, Paw Paw gets one.”
“It’s ‘Grampa.’ He likes to be called ‘Grampa.’”
“Paw Paw.”
Granny shakes her head and laughs with us. I’m afraid from now on Grampa will become ‘Paw Paw,’ whether he likes it or not. Time’s changed; the youngest in a family gets to make the rules.
---
Really appreciate any help.
ETA: Kansas, don't get thrown off by the rejects. They're a part of the business/game. Keep thy head up.