{"id":386,"date":"2015-02-01T17:48:06","date_gmt":"2015-02-01T22:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/?p=386"},"modified":"2015-02-03T03:53:37","modified_gmt":"2015-02-03T08:53:37","slug":"aww-nuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/?p=386","title":{"rendered":"Aww, Nuts!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I really enjoyed my dad’s birthday party. \u00a0It was just a small, family gathering. \u00a0Well, at least it started off that way. \u00a0Then, my brother’s girlfriend showed up. \u00a0Then, my sister’s fiance’s niece and her best friend. \u00a0Of course, we can’t forget my three friends who call my dad, their dad, which isn’t really unusual considering Milton Warren James “fathers” the community. \u00a0Then, my mom’s part-time business parter, my cousin-sisters and their kids. \u00a0I think that is all who was there. \u00a0Oh! I forgot about the two pets and Papa Amos, who just\u00a0happened\u00a0<\/em>to stop by (I think it was because of all the cars in the driveway.) \u00a0Overall, it was a great turnout. \u00a0We are the community family, so, everyone who wasn’t invited is still welcome.<\/p>\n

After the food, we spend about four hours opening five gifts. \u00a0EVERY gift had a story and a reasoning behind it. \u00a0It wasn’t just a picture frame. \u00a0It was\u00a0the\u00a0<\/em> picture frame. \u00a0The only picture frame available to portray the love and loyalty of our family bond. \u00a0It wasn’t just a watch. \u00a0It was\u00a0the<\/em>\u00a0watch–the ONLY watch–that symbolized the endless time of our love. \u00a0The watch that will not snag at dad’s shop. \u00a0The watch that matched all colors in his closet. \u00a0The watch that told the moon phase, because of the conversation six years ago when dad forgot when the next full moon was going to be. \u00a0No gift was given simply because we wanted to have the gift. \u00a0No. \u00a0Each and every gift was given with sufficient motivation to ensure dad’s gifts will be utilized to their fullest potential.<\/p>\n

Every detail of this birthday party was planned–down to the menu items. Now, let me take a moment to explain just how dinner parties work in the James family. \u00a0It is the same for breakfast items. \u00a0If we are not making a single portion, any item on the menu is prepared in such a surplus that we can pack up the pots and pans and take them down to the nearest shelter–and THEY will eat for weeks. \u00a0We have always been this family–as far back as I can remember–we have been the community family. \u00a0After church service, our family would go home, and just as we sat down at the table to bless the food, the doorbell would ring. \u00a0By the time we actually ate for dinner, our house was so full of people that our short, quaint meal, instantly, turned into the James’ Mess Hall and Buffet. \u00a0As everyone grew up, they didn’t come around as much, but we still kept cooking as if, any moment, the doorbell would ring.<\/p>\n

Today is no different. \u00a0On the menu, there is lobster, crab cakes, shrimp, macaroni and cheese, rice pilaf, ham, Cornish hen, rolls, honey carrots and banana pudding. \u00a0I was in charge of two items–Gouda grits (for the shrimp and grits touch) and magic cookie squares for dessert. \u00a0The Gouda grits are always a party favorite. \u00a0The magic cookie squares are a holiday\/family gathering legacy. \u00a0My mom normally makes them; however, as of late, the “magic” torch has been handed down to me.<\/p>\n

No one can forget the ingredients to grits–grits, water, Gouda and a few other ingredients thrown in for taste. \u00a0I voluntarily agree to make them because they are the least amount of hassle with the least amount of effort. \u00a0Yet, they are always a smash hit–except for the day I neglected to purchase quick grits and got instant instead–epic FAIL. \u00a0But today, I had all the ingredients to everything. \u00a0I was absolutely amazed at just how creamy the grits turned out, today. \u00a0The entire meal was immaculate. \u00a0Everything was perfect.<\/p>\n

Desserts came after gifts, after dinner. \u00a0I was so proud and smiled so hard when everyone realized I made the magic cookie squares. \u00a0They went on and on about how long it has been since they had any, how wonderful they smelled, how rich and thick they looked. \u00a0Yes!\u00a0<\/em> My “magic” was a hit. \u00a0About fifteen minutes later, Lulu asks “Aren’t we missing something?”<\/p>\n

“You need\u00a0More<\/em> food?” \u00a0I ask laughing.<\/p>\n

“No. \u00a0These chocolate things. \u00a0Aren’t they missing something?” Lulu continues.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think so. \u00a0I followed all the directions on the sheet.” \u00a0I responded.<\/p>\n

“They don’t have any nuts on them. \u00a0They’re missing the pecans.” My mom interjects.<\/p>\n

“I thought they tasted different.” \u00a0Lulu confirms.<\/p>\n

“You waited ’til you have a corner left on your square to notice that something is wrong with the square?” \u00a0I ask irritated.<\/p>\n

“I wasn’t sure. \u00a0It took me a minute to think about it.” \u00a0Lulu says back while finishing off the corner square in her hand and proceeding to lick her fingers.<\/p>\n

“I’m not getting up to sprinkle some nuts on those squares. \u00a0Just think of it as an altered recipe.” \u00a0I retort.<\/p>\n

Another fifteen minutes go by and we have more fun and laughter. \u00a0We tell more family stories. \u00a0While my father is telling the story about the blessings of his present, my grandma asks for another square.<\/p>\n

“Momma, your sugar!” \u00a0My mom protests.<\/p>\n

“I don’t want but a small piece,” Lulu says almost pleading. \u00a0Lulu has a voice that tugs at your soul. \u00a0Three people, including me, scramble to get her a piece of “magic.” \u00a0Grandma takes several bites of her magic cookie square. \u00a0Again, when the treat in hand is nearly a distant memory, Lulu says, “SOMETHING\u00a0<\/em>is missing.”<\/p>\n

I stare straight ahead at Lulu, without blinking. \u00a0“Nuts, Lulu. \u00a0Nuts. \u00a0There are no nuts in the square.<\/p>\n

“Okay, okay,” \u00a0Lulu agrees nodding her head as she continues to take the last few bites of her square.<\/p>\n

When the dinner is complete, we proceed to clean up the home. \u00a0Everything is nice and orderly.\u00a0 As guests leave, we prepare to-go plates and divide the food–nothing is wasted. \u00a0As we get Lulu into the van to go home, Lulu exclaims, “Did you get me some of those magic chocolate things?”<\/p>\n

“We got some to go home,” \u00a0mom assures her.<\/p>\n

“Good!” \u00a0Grandma says excitingly. \u00a0“They were real good.”<\/p>\n

“But\u00a0Something<\/em> was missing.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I really enjoyed my dad’s birthday party. \u00a0It was just a small, family gathering. \u00a0Well, at least it started off that way. \u00a0Then, my brother’s girlfriend showed up. \u00a0Then, my sister’s fiance’s niece and her best friend. \u00a0Of course, we can’t forget my three friends who call my dad, their dad, which isn’t really unusual […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[38,6,7,20,25,70,36],"class_list":["post-386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-memoirs-of-a-paralegal","tag-a-sweeter-point-of-you","tag-court-tv-online-drama","tag-danni-j","tag-legal-drama","tag-memoirs","tag-memoirs-of-a-paralegal","tag-sweet-danni-j"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/download.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2WTgw-6e","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=386"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":393,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386\/revisions\/393"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sweetdannij.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}