As I have mentioned, the home comin' starts with the immigration official. The 'Welcome home', followed by the word 'ma'am', is rather emotional for me. It has taken nearly ten years, but I do now refer to my lovely condo, and Austin, as 'home'. When picking up things in the supermarket in Blighty, I do now say, 'I need to take these home'. However, when asked what I did for Christmas when in the USA, my reply is always, 'I went home'!
Being back in Texas was not as welcoming as it could have been. It was freezing. In fact, on Monday, it was struggling to get up to freezing. Although not quite the polar experience that was being had in the north eastern block of the country, it was very cold. As we left home, the wind slapped my face with such force, that I felt the sting for quite some time. Dana rued the day he mocked me for bringing my winter woollies to Austin, as I reminded him, again, that it was a good thing that I did not leave them at home! My mother had given us all a little something for Christmas, to spend as each couple saw fit, and I bought two pairs of boots, which were now coming into good use. (When I purchased the footwear, Richard had reminded me that the gift was for both Dana and myself, and I promised I would show Dana what we got!) The day did not warm up at all. We left the office much later than usual, and my caring husband suggested that rather than go home and start cooking, we should take advantage of the daily special at our favourite home cookin' diner. The Monday special is good ol' fashon' meatloaf. I cannot imagine a scenario in my past where I would have ventured to order meatloaf at a restaurant. It is like ordering stew! Meatloaf was never on the menu in my home (although it was not alien) as a child, but anything with gravy was always considered (by me) to be sustenance rather than appetising! Although my tastes have changed over the years, and a nice casserole (as it is more commonly known here) is acceptable, old habits die hard, and cannot bring myself to order such items when dining out. However, I digress! Back at the diner, (anyone who has ever frequented 'Jim's' will understand that it is more of an affectionate term to call it a 'diner', than a 'restaurant' and not an insult to their culinary skills,) I noticed the seasonal special on the board had been replaced. Instead of the previous winter warmer, they were now offering one of my favourites; Chicken-n-waffles! What a dilemma! Meatloaf, or Chicken and waffles? I sat down and pondered. I amazed myself when I ordered the meatloaf. It just seemed 'proper' to have something conventional on a cold evening, and smothering my weekday dinner with syrup was probably more American than I could be at this stage. What was slightly more alien, was my comment of, 'Oh great, they brought back the Chicken and Waffles!' In my past, the two items would have been mutally exclusive on a menu.
The meatloaf was delicious. Mashed potatoes smothered in brown gravy (I still cannot come to terms with the white variety) was one of my sides. 'Fried okra, please', sort of confirmed that I had, indeed, arrived, and slowly, but surely, I was turning into a southerner! The fact that I still say 'please', and not 'ma'am', or 'sir', when I order keeps me from realising that I have relinquished my heritage completely. My boots and I left the diner, with Dana, and headed home for a nice cup of tea! (No milk, as I have never enjoyed tea with additives, but good ol' fashon' PG Tips!)
I cooked on Thursday! Perhaps good ol' fashon' cookin' was not what was dished up, but it was enjoyed by my husband, despite having to clean away the dishes. It was, in fact, a meal duplicated from a cafe we have frequented in the past; Salmon on a bed of pasta, tossed in a lemon sauce with mushrooms, artichokes and capers. Perhaps slightly more European than English, but more towards my homeland than not!
Friday night we dined with Samantha and Edward. Another coupon, another post Christmas saving. Southern spiced boneless wings and chili can really put things back on track! My open toed shoes and I left the restaurant, with Dana, and headed home for a nice cup of tea!
I did get to enjoy my chicken-n-waffles, on Saturday night. All was smothered in maple syrup and thoroughly enjoyed! We sat at 'Deborah's table', (everyone seems to ask for Deborah, much to the disappointment of some of the other wait staff) and when she said she had not seen us in a while (she was not serving on Monday), I told her, 'I went home for Christmas'. Home, they say, is 'where the heart is', and my heart, fortunately, is big enough to be on both sides of the Atlantic.
Next week starts the beginning of the norm, and my husband will be treated to good ol' fashon' home cookin', from his good ol' fashon' kitchen. He will be able to be the good ol' fashon' sothern gentleman and wash up for his English wife! The meteorologists have promised that temperatures will be above normal (always amusing, as there is nothing normal about Austin, albeit weather or otherwise!) Will I relent, accept to be wined and dined by my cowboy, and try something foreign? Well that is ............... another story!
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