Who You Calling Fruitcake?

Hello folks, let’s chat…I almost made it through the Christmas season without mentioning the controversial fruitcake. I’ve been resisting the temptation because I didn’t want to fuel the great fruitcake divide. However, a fruitcake funny fell in my lap and y’all know I can’t resist a good story, right?

By the way, the aforementioned divide is no myth. I’ve poked gentle fun at the fruitcake only a few times over the years because the response is always dicey. We anti-fruitcake people underestimate the passion of the pro-fruitcake people. Case in point, someone just paid $7,500 for an old piece of fruitcake from Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 2011 wedding. That’s four going on five years, but who’s counting? Fruitcake people are curiously proud of the dessert’s shelf life. And now, my story…

I’m married to one of the sweetest people on the planet. Last Sunday Mr. Nice Guy and I were at my parents. I was putting some soup on to simmer for their supper when I heard Papa offer Phil “some of the best fruitcake he’d ever put in his mouth, guaranteed.” This man and I have been together for over three decades. I know he’s not a fruitcake fan, so I couldn’t help but grin when I heard Phil agree to try a slice. And I had to laugh when Papa served Phil a generous slab of fruitcake and added, “Eat all that and I’ll get you a bigger piece.”

Some time later, Phil and I were driving home when I asked him if he’d like to call in something for our own dinner and pick it up on our way through town.

“That’s fine,” Phil said, “but I’d rather get back out for it later, if it’s okay with you.”

I assured him I didn’t mind waiting.

“Good,” Phil said, “I’m not hungry. I had to eat fruitcake.”

And then, almost like an afterthought, Mr. Nice Guy added under his breath, “I don’t like fruitcake.”

That’s my man, y’all, healing the Fruitcake Divide one slice at a time. From Mr. Nice Guy, the Belle of All Things Southern and our immediate family, we hope y’all had a very Merry Christmas and we wish each of you a Blessed New Year~

Hugs,
Shellie

Standing left to right, daughter-in-law Carey and our son Phillip holding Baby Weston. The two of them are on either side of DeeDee, the lovely young lady they brought into our family during her teen years. My husband Phil is holding their two young belles, (left to right, Emerson Ann and Carlisle Mae.)

Standing right to left, our daughter Jessica with our son-in-law Patrick. I’m holding their two young beaus, (left to right, Grant Thomas and Connor Phillip.)