Friday, January 2, 2004
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Friday, January 2, 2004 |
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Super-deluxe pineapple pound cake By Rick Ryckeley Well, we made it! It’s another year under our belts, along with a few extra pounds, thanks to The Wife’s great cooking and her special super-deluxe pineapple pound cake. About this time each year, lots of folks stand up and pontificate about the countless things they want to accomplish in the coming year and the many items left undone from the last. Newspaper journalists, TV newscasters, and even those radio talk show hosts will write about and babble endlessly on the subject, so why should I be any different? Guess the most important thing that has happened in the last 12 months around our house is that we’re all still here. A little worse for wear, maybe, but we’re still here. Ranking right up with that major accomplishment was The Boy turning 16, getting a car and starting to drive. As safe a driver as he is, many of my hairs have been lost since then, but the worry lines I’ve gained more than make up for the loss. He’ll be a senior this fall, which means just one more year of high school and ten more football games then it’s off to the hallowed halls of academia at some faraway university. No worries, though. There’s still a way to go before I unleash him unto the world. Trust me; the world’s not ready yet. This year The Boy says he’ll bring down all his dirty clothes and not let them pile up for a month. He promises that his room will stay clean, and he’ll finally get rid of that science project over in the corner. That was something I was thankful to hear. Last week that fuzzy purple and green science project snarled at me. He says he will let me pay for his two football camps this summer and his new computer this fall. He’s such a nice and thoughtful boy. Yes, it’s only 18 months, two weeks and three days ‘til he’s off to college and must start to fend for himself. Not that I’m counting, mind you. Our trip to Colonial Williamsburg July 4 was the highlight of The Wife’s and my year. Being a high school history teacher, she was right at home amongst all of the old brown buildings and dusty cobblestone streets. For five days, we walked the same streets as our forefathers, talked to historians and experienced how life was in the early days of our country. When it was time to leave, The Wife didn’t want to go. She was still excited and wanted to see more. I was just tired. Five days of walking on cobblestones was a lot for a little firefighter. I did learn something very important on our trip to Colonial Williamsburg, something I will never forget. Seeing how the men and women lived day to day way back then, I figured that I would have lasted about 30 minutes. With another year gone, we can now plan for our next summer vacation. Maybe we’ll go back to Boston so I can see the Liberty Bell. But what we really need in 2004 is a job that pays us to stay at home and do nothing so we can go on vacation anytime we want. The Wife said that’s called retirement. I checked, and the way the stock market has been the last couple of years, I figure we only have to work till the year 2095 and we’ll have it made! So, what can you do to make sure you have a happy and health new year? Eat a slice of The Wife’s super-deluxe pineapple pound cake with a glass of milk, and don’t start off 2004 worried about things! Worrying makes your hair fall out, which causes wrinkles, and worrying about more wrinkles makes your hair fall out it’s a vicious cycle. Have no fears, dear reader. Bubba Hanks and the gang will all be here every Friday throughout the next 52 weeks to keep you amused. But this year, please don’t leave me out on the driveway to get rained on and run over by the car. (I just hate it when that happens, especially when my face is on the front page.) Pick the paper up and bring it inside, kick your shoes off and enjoy. There’s a lot of good reading inside. And thanks for the e-mails. It’s nice to know that a few of my stories have reminded some of you about your childhood. Around our house, there’s only one question unanswered from last year. Is the question: Do ya think dirty clothes can walk themselves to the laundry room? Nope. The Boy had an answer for that one. Is it: Do ya think money grows on trees, young man? Nope. The Boy had an answer for that one too. Is it: Didn’t you hear me tell you to be in by ten? Nope. The Boy had an answer for that one — it wasn’t the right answer and he got grounded for a month, but he did have an answer nonetheless. No, the one question this holiday season around our house still unanswered is: How can eating just one of The Wife’s super-deluxe pineapple pound cakes make you gain 15 pounds? I personally think this question warrants further research. Me and The Boy will get right on it. Have a happy and healthy New Year, from The Wife, The Boy and me. [Rick Ryckeley is employed by the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. He can be reached at saferick@bellsouth.net.]
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