I imagine that when my offspring remember me in my later years, they will remember me for what I do for them, rather than what they do for me; at least, that's the Greek way. And if I'm still around for them to visit me, I suppose that they'll still expect to find something in the τσικάλι or the τηγάνι...
The age of 64 is the mid-point between my parents' ages when they died; one did not reach that age, whereas the other died only a few short years later. It's a reminder of my mortality. If my mother were still alive today, she'd be celebrating not just Mother's Day, but her 79th birthday too. If I'm still around then, I wonder what my kids will expect to see on the Sunday lunch table when they come to visit me on Mother's Day with a bunch of flowers in their hands...
Even though lentils are a boring lunch staple, I think they'll really appreciate a hot bowl of this soup on a cold day, because it's very comforting and filling.
But Mother's Day is always a Sunday and the general rule in our house is that Sundays are meat days. They know I hate cooking steak (because our BBQ area is still non-existent), but everyone loves my pork and celery stew.
Then there are kalitsounia, which I always make in large batches, and they always get devoured as soon as they come out of the frying pan or the oven.
If they're a parent themselves by this time, my grandchildren will probably look forward to yiayia's special pearly pilafi rice made with free-range chicken that their papou raises in the village.
My young grandchildren may not be too keen on 'heavy' meat dishes (as I remember my kids weren't when they were very young), so I might defrost a few biftekia for them.
But what often remains in most Greek people's mind when they leave the family nest is the unforgettable Sunday roast, which invariably means that the whole family is seated together round the table.
It could be roast pork with orzo pasta (kritharaki)...
They will probably expect a desert too: I am not a keen cake baker, but my boiled chocolate cake has always been a show stopper...
... or maybe they'll be more traditional and ask for a sfakiani pita (now that the drachma has returned and chocolate is treated as an expensive luxury commodity).
If I haven't developed arthritis by then, I will still be able to make them.
©All Rights Reserved/Organically cooked. No part of this blog may be reproduced and/or copied by any means without prior consent from Maria Verivaki.
The age of 64 is the mid-point between my parents' ages when they died; one did not reach that age, whereas the other died only a few short years later. It's a reminder of my mortality. If my mother were still alive today, she'd be celebrating not just Mother's Day, but her 79th birthday too. If I'm still around then, I wonder what my kids will expect to see on the Sunday lunch table when they come to visit me on Mother's Day with a bunch of flowers in their hands...
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But Mother's Day is always a Sunday and the general rule in our house is that Sundays are meat days. They know I hate cooking steak (because our BBQ area is still non-existent), but everyone loves my pork and celery stew.
Then there are kalitsounia, which I always make in large batches, and they always get devoured as soon as they come out of the frying pan or the oven.
If they're a parent themselves by this time, my grandchildren will probably look forward to yiayia's special pearly pilafi rice made with free-range chicken that their papou raises in the village.
My young grandchildren may not be too keen on 'heavy' meat dishes (as I remember my kids weren't when they were very young), so I might defrost a few biftekia for them.
But what often remains in most Greek people's mind when they leave the family nest is the unforgettable Sunday roast, which invariably means that the whole family is seated together round the table.
It could be roast pork with orzo pasta (kritharaki)...
... or roast lamb with okra.
They will probably expect a desert too: I am not a keen cake baker, but my boiled chocolate cake has always been a show stopper...
... or maybe they'll be more traditional and ask for a sfakiani pita (now that the drachma has returned and chocolate is treated as an expensive luxury commodity).
If I haven't developed arthritis by then, I will still be able to make them.
Happy MOTHER'S DAY to those who celebrate it;
and don't forget: it's MOTHER'S DAY every day for most mothers.
and don't forget: it's MOTHER'S DAY every day for most mothers.
©All Rights Reserved/Organically cooked. No part of this blog may be reproduced and/or copied by any means without prior consent from Maria Verivaki.
Happy Mother's to you, Maria!
ReplyDeleteYou would probably be surprised, but I did indeed remember that the second Sunday is often the same as your own mother's birthday.
Believe or not, Allis just celebrated her 78th this past weekend and, as per usual, we revisited the Kastelli fish luncheon essay that you composed some years back. I still find it extremely touching and quite thoughtful.
that's very special to know
ReplyDeleteoften when i am writing, i keep allis in mind because of the advice she passed on to me; i was slow to catch on to how useful it was, and i didnt use it sooner, but i think i can change this - allis knows how difficult it is for me, and even though it's common sense, i still need someone to remind me of it