Grilled Cheese Sandwichs

"A friend of ours who is a professor at the local community college and has just opened her counseling office (part time) called my wife and asked her to go to Dallas for the weekend. Donni called me and I said, "Go, by all means." They're going to some concert, so I'll be batching it this weekend. With my cooking I should lose some weight! Although, I do make a mean grilled sandwich, bowl of Campbell's soup or bowl of cereal. Not really, I'm a pretty good cook; I just don't like cleaning up afterwards."

- Mike
(from an e-mail)

Daddy always could make the BEST grilled cheese sandwiches. When we were all younger, still living at home, Mom made a schedule. Each of us were assigned a day of the week that we had to cook a meal and a day that we had to clean the kitchen. Shanna and I would always cook and clean on the same night. Ryan would cook, with mom cleaning after him. Dad would clean after mom. Ryan would clean on Dad's cooking nights. Daddy always picked Wednesday night to cook. Since we had church that night, almost every Wednesday, he would cook Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup.

His sandwiches would always be grilled to perfection. Just the perfect shade of golden brown and crispy - not too cooked, not still soft. Even as an adult, I would go to visit daddy and ask him to cook me a sandwich.

Once, when I was pregnant, I really wanted one. Mom and I were meeting early to go to some garage sales. So, I asked her to get dad to make me one for before we left. And, yes, daddy would get up at 5:40 am on a Saturday, just to make me a grilled cheese. Well, I got to her house and ran inside to get my breakfast and let mom know I was there. I hugged daddy and thanked him as he handed me this beautiful, golden brown slice of heaven (I craved them in the first few months of my pregnancy). My mouth was watering as I smelled it. I took a huge bite. And, almost gagged!

He was out of regular cheese, so thought he would just use Pepperjack. I love pepperjack cheese. But, when you aren't expecting it, it can be quite a shock. I ended up tossing the whole sandwich. I ran home (I lived in walking distance) and got some good, old American Cheddar Cheese. He made me a new one.

I can't believe all the little things he has done for me over the years. How many people would get up at 5:40am and make their grown, adult kid a sandwich - much less 2 of them?

I miss you, daddy - I wish I could make you a sandwich right now.
Love, Aimee