“Houdini Mama”

One of my southern mama’s favorite things to do is feed people. Just lead that woman to a kitchen and step back—it doesn’t matter if your cupboard is bare or overflowing, Houdini Mama can take whatever you’ve got in your pantry and whip up a meal fit for a king. Now, Mama’s not particular, she enjoys feeding anyone and everyone, but it doubles her fun if the hungry person is related to her and if the mark happens to be her grandchild, she’s in hog heaven. Lately, Papa’s been doing a lot of traveling and that means Mama’s culinary talents have been going to waste. This has created a ton of pent-up energy. I knew it was only a matter of time before she blew a cooking gasket.

This past weekend the two of us were in Dallas visiting Rhonda Arlene, her middle daughter and my sorely missed sister. We had a good time, even got to watch Blair and Bradley play some basketball. The first morning we were there, Mama, known as Nanee to her grandchildren, took over Rhonda’s kitchen for breakfast duties. We had toast, eggs…the works. It was good but Mama was just getting going. The next morning she started bright and early on her famous pancakes. She served everyone, but her main focus was on Bradley, the eleven-year-old.

You should have seen Bradley putting those pancakes away. Mama just kept adding to his plate. Finally, after what must’ve been a dozen, Mama said, “You doing okay, Bradley? How ’bout some more?”

Bradley’s little eyes rolled back in his head and he clutched his swollen stomach. “No, ma’am Nanee,” he said. “I don’t even want the ones I already had.”