Breakfast is a routine every morning at the Parker home. It is first consistent, timely and well … good. It is morning family time.
My clock sounds reveille on weekday mornings at 06:45. Up, morning prep completed and dressed by 07:15. Dressed — as in ready to leave the house.
I step to my daughter’s door and simply say, “Breakfast time.” She is generally awake and rolls out immediately. Down the stairs and we begin our routine.
Timer set the night before, coffee is ready. Dump the grounds and turn toward the refrigerator. Take out the bacon, eggs, and pancake syrup.
I must note here that the night before I not only prepare the coffee, but also set up the kitchen. That is, the table is set except for plates which are conveniently placed on the countertop next to the stove. My favorite iron skillet is on the eye with a third of a stick of butter, softened overnight. Matching coffee cups are spaced roughly an inch apart, handles all facing the same direction.
As Candy prepares and cooks the bacon. I set the eye under the skillet to a medium temperature, then crack open four eggs into my mixing bowl and add salt and pepper. Then with a whisk, I stir/beat the eggs until there’s a blend reached to my satisfaction.
Now, I take the skillet in hand and swirl the hot butter around making sure the inside surface is fully covered. Then back on the eye, I pour the eggs into the skillet and immediately rinse the bowl, placing it in the sink so that the raw eggs won’t stick. Back to the eggs, I stir and turn until done.
By this time, Candy has finished cooking the bacon and has placed four strips on each plate. Two large plates for us and a smaller one for Barbara as she prefers a waffle.
Then, having already placed an Eggo waffle on a medium plate with syrup already applied, she slips it into the microwave as I divide the eggs between Candy and I.
Coffee and juice poured with plates now on the table, one of us will call up to Barbara that “It’s on the table.”
Then we start the microwave at 60 seconds. An important 60 seconds as I take my morning medicine and Candy checks her blood sugar, making necessary adjustments to her Insulin pump.
Barbara usually arrives just as the microwave dings. Placing the hot, syrupy waffle at her place and all taking our seats, we hold hands as we thank God for the day and all blessings, asking for help, comfort and safety for those we know and love as well as protection for our country.
Prayer over, we then enjoy the meal along with pleasant morning conversation.
Then we play. There is a daily word puzzle game on our phones that challenges the mind. As we each individually work the puzzle, we help one another as we might get “stuck“ on a word, we continue this until…
Candy’s phone alarms at 06:52, the sound is that of Rod Bramlett calling the now infamous “Kick 6” audio. This is a first warning that it’s approaching time to leave for school. (That is, if I already have an assignment for that day.)
As I finish off my coffee, Candy will close up my bag making sure lunch is ready for me.
Her phone will alarm again at 07:00, indicating time for me to leave. A quick round of “Thank you for breakfast” between the three of us, then a hug, a kiss for my wife and I’m out the door, leaving Candy to cleanup.
Now on days that I don’t already have an assignment, we listen out for that “important“ call, usually extending our time at the table another 30 minutes, wondering if a late call from the school might be coming — Sometimes yes, sometimes no. (On these occasions, the clean-up is left to me.)
That’s weekday breakfast at the Parker house. It’s not a big deal — But then again, yes it is.
Just Pondering…