The First Two Bites Taste Like Chicken

Growing up in the 40's I can only imagine all of the shenanigans my dad and his siblings pulled. One story he loved to tell was his adventures with gathering dinner during the great depression.

Trying to locate any food for his family, a porcupine wandered into his path. Not what he was hoping for, but dinner it became. Struggling to skin the prickly beast was a challenge all itself. 

So intrigued by his story telling it begged the obvious question, so dad, what does porcupine taste like?

Well, the first two bites taste like chicken....the rest he said, tastes like porcupine. Rough, dry and not very pleasant but with each bite it quieted the growl rumbling in his empty belly.

What a challenge that must have been to mask the rough, dry porcupine flavor and to coax out the savory juices to pass off as chicken!

It becomes so easy to mask a rough, dry life, attempting to cast a shadow over the prickly parts. 

How are you? Fine...actually I am aching. We left our first born a billion miles away at a rest stop....ok, not actually a rest stop but college....kinda the same thing. That dependent little puppy we taught to eat, sleep through the night without crying and navigate between the very fine line of independence yet contentedness all at the same time.  

How are your parents? Doing ok....actually, they are living their last days. Now I am the puppy left at a rest stop. Finding it hard to sleep through the night without crying, realizing it is difficult to swallow water let alone food. Knowing I was fully independent, yet still so very connected. 

As I now view these events from 6 years ago in the rear view mirror,  I have learned many valuable lessons that I carry with me each day. I have learned to let others in and pray for me and share my burdens during the rest stops of life. Accepting at times I can be an old dried up porcupine no matter the spices used. 

I have received the grace and forgiveness from those dearest to me for being prickly through life's struggles and found gratitude along the way after the first two bites, even if they are dry, tough and old.

When life gives you porcupine, make chicken nuggets...the kids will never know!