Merry Christmas! Here’s a picture of a half-devoured fish to bring that extra special bit of Christmas cheer. There’s a first time for everything, and with this inaugural post of a dinner photo, I feel I’m really making progress on my social media journey–I’m reaching deep into the rucksack to find the real utility of this modern electronic medium. (OK, I apologize for the snark).
I do wonder about myself sometimes, this being the second picture of a dead fish I’ve posted in barely a month, but it’s hard to ignore the compelling imagery of a fish head on a plate or the wall of museum (The Piece of Cod).
In this case it was actually a sweet moment that led to this photo of Ella’s entree. This past Wednesday, our family celebrated an early Christmas at a local restaurant. Our youngest son is a foodie, and our long-established family tradition takes us to a new high-end restaurant each holiday season.
Due to food allergies, Ella’s diet is restricted to a limited number of offerings on the typical restaurant’s menu. In this case, the chef recommended the Branzino as the one entree which would meet Ella’s requirements. So, fish it was–Spit Roasted Branzino with roasted brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and pomegranate–it sounded delicious.
Our conversation meandered back across the year we have shared together. The appetizers slowly disappeared; the main course awaited. Unbeknownst to either Ella or myself, our eagle-eyed son spied the reality of the impending dinner presentation. In watching the entrees being served to a couple seated across from us, he realized the Branzino was of the whole fish variety. Knowing his mother’s general hesitancy toward eating things with a head attached, as well as her dislike of bones in her food, he judiciously kept this information to himself; it was an act of mercy from a loving son.
As our server placed the piping hot plate in front of Ella, we all held our breath. “It sees us.” A smile, a laugh, and tension released, akin to the goose-head chopping scene at the end of A Christmas Story. Ella overcame any initial queasiness and dove into her meal. It was NOT the best meal she’s ever had, but the evening was one of the best we’ve had as a family. Every pin-bone she pulled from her mouth, every gut-wrenching look at the fish eyes–an equal number of laughs.
I will resist the urge to pull some deep philosophical or theological meaning from this little episode, but perhaps there is no harm in drawing out a couple quick life-lessons. First, that sense of adventure, do not repress it. That willingness to dive into something new, it will usually serve you well, although it may mean a toasted bagel at home following the high-end meal to top off your hungry stomach, nonetheless you didn’t shy away from the new challenge. Second, you may find yourself working around the bones and prickly bits at Christmas dinner. Perhaps you or I are the prickly bit? Regardless, any effort we make to look past the awkward, the ungainly, and the challenging family moments will pay off. I pray that the labors which my family or friends make to navigate around my sharp, prickly edges is ultimately worth the effort. We all stand to gain from mutually shared forgiveness and understanding, pin-bones and all.
Dear readers, with this goofball story I approach you at Christmas-time with a heartfelt thanks for reading and persevering. My journey down this crazy writing path has allowed me to more thoughtfully approach life and the gifts that God has granted us all.
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