Lessons from Louise

I've been told for a while now - the 7 years that I've known my husband - that no one makes fried okra like his grandmother. No one. "So don't even try it unless you do it her way." Those are his words, verbatim.

So finally, after 7 years of constant chatter about Mamaw's fried okra, I decided to find out her secret. The secret? There is no secret. "There's no special secret to it, I think he just likes it because I make it." Her words, verbatim.

But I'm not a fryer. One, I don't like the way it stinks up my house, and two, I don't like anything that splatters when I cook it. I'm not a clean-freak at all. Maybe a little.

I called Louise (Mamaw) last week and told her Rob had gotten some okra from a lady at work and I needed her to teach me how it's done so he would get off my case about it! =) She so sweetly agreed, and I spent several hours last Saturday learning her country kitchen ways. Let's get real - I can always use tips in the kitchen. Unless it's a cheesecake, a casserole, a grilled cheese or tacos, I'm probably not the one to call. But if you want any of those things, I'm your girl.

After my phone call I was quickly overwhelmed with emotion. Not because I was excited about okra. Because I was so looking forward to time with a grandmother figure. I've always felt close to Rob's entire family since I first met him. I immediately hit it off with them. But there's just something about his Mamaw that reminds me of my late grandmother. We even talked about how she really loved getting to know my grandmother during the short time they spent together. She was looking forward to becoming "such great friends." She even said, "I could just see us sharing Miss Harper." She's such a doll. For that, I am grateful.

Alas, the cutting began. She wanted to show me from start to finish how she does it so that Rob would be pleased. =) Once it was ready, she showed me how to do it any way imaginable - fried, boiled, steamed - you name it. She even tried a recipe she had just seen in an issue of Southern Living. But it didn't make the cut, per Rob's Paw Paw. 

And once the fried okra was scooped from the cast-iron skillet, it's like my hubby could smell it from miles away. He showed up while on-duty (luckily he has an awesome Sergeant) to have a quick lunch with us. 

I learned a lot Saturday. The most important thing - make the time. Stop saying, "I really should do that" and do it. 

Make the time. It's always worth it.