So, Mom and Dad are selling their house and planning to go on a mission soon. They have asked some of the kids to "babysit" some items for them while they are "homeless". Dad and Mom and Chip spent most of Saturday loading a huge U-Haul to bring all this stuff down to Provo and it was 10:30pm before Dad even got to my house to unload.
All day I had promised Dad a nice cold drink and had made a special batch of limeade with pureed strawberries and Pellegrino just for him. Just as we were finishing up with the unloading, I asked Todd to go into the house and put ice in a glass and pour a nice cold glass for Dad. Todd came back with the glass sweating with condensation and Dad said, "Thank you," and took a huge sip and kind of just sat there.
We chatted for a moment, and then Dad said, "Well, I've got to get going..." He took another HUGE gulp, and I offered to put it into a cup he could take with him. He said, "Oh, no.. that's fine. Thank you."
As Dad walked to the truck I looked at the cold glass and since there was so much left I took a big old gulp myself. Instead of tangy-sweet strawberry limeade I got a mouthful of raw tomato juice. Todd had seen the pitcher of red liquid on the counter (drained from tomatoes cut up for salsa that day - so no salt or anything...) and had thought that was the limeade. Poor Dad! And he was too polite to say anything like: "I don't think this is limeade," or "this limeade sucks."
I laughed so hard and then ran to the truck and made sure my dear, sweet, hard-working dad knew that we had not intended to give him a cold glass of tomato juice. He gently said, "I didn't think it tasted right..." He would rather suck it up and drink the gross juice than to offend me in any way even though I could have handled the humiliation. So telling...
I love my Dad!
11 comments:
Oh PKO, I love you so, you do so much for me!!!
That is so sweet! That is just like my grandpa Christiansen (my mom's dad) My Grandma made him a ham sandwich with miracle whip everyday for 20 years, until she found out he didn't really like ham and miracle whip. But he never said a word, and just ate his lunch every day!
Wow, that was the best laugh that I have had in a long time. I would say that with table manners like that, your dad is clearly ready for another mission.
I don't know if I should laugh or cry. It is sort of like Pathetic Story #483. But no, more telling of his kindness and character.
That guy really IS amazing!
What a great story! Makes you wonder what else he hasn't "said"...
I am laughing so hard out loud that Cubby has now joined me and keeps asking, "what?"
Put THAT in "Manners for Missionaries!"
That is so cute...good 'ol dad. :)
I can only imagine how I would have reacted--not being a saint like PKO--I would have blurted out, "Oh yuck! What is this stuff?" Yep, that's the difference between us. I have a long way to go.
holy cow, I can't stop laughing. I love your dad. and todd--that is so funny! the well meaning husband neglects to sniff out the strong odor of tomato. I may dry heave thinking about it:)
I'm totally laughing right now. Your dad is so, so kind. He is so ready for a mission if he can drink straight tomatoes and not even bat an eye - he can handle anyones weird food.
Oh, that made me laugh so hard! I love our dear, sweet Poppa! He is "practically perfect in every way!" (Tomato juice instead of limeaide...)
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