I came into Jr High school from a tiny little Catholic school in my tiny little home town. My first days at a huge (relatively speaking) public Junior High were tough. I rarely saw my old friends from elementary school, I had never had to change classrooms for different subjects, navigate a locker with a combination (I still have nightmares about this when I’m super stressed) or wrestle through hallways filled with kids bouncing off each other like bumper cars.
I remember seeing one girl, tall, blonde, pretty and VERY outgoing, and immediately not liking her… I don’t even remember why….
She became my best friend.
I was the youngest in my family and a straggler so my house was quiet and very controlled, just the way my father liked it. I was absolutely dumbstruck the first time I went to my new friend’s house and met her family. They lived in a small house, she was the oldest of four kids, and her parents were the funniest people I had ever met. Her house was always loud, and moving, and a little out of control in the most fun ways! Her Dad particularly was hilarious.
Always a joke, always teasing us, always laughing, at least when he wasn’t dragging in from having single handedly run a farm all day. He was hard working, and dedicated, cared for his Mom who lived on the same property and so shared his time and efforts caring for two households, plus farming. Did I say he was hard working???
So, on one particular occasion I was visiting and my friend’s Dad, John and her little brother had gone out small game hunting, and successfully. They brought home a satchel full of rabbits and squirrels.
Folks, my Mom did NOT cook wild game of any sort whatsoever. My Dad still to this day does not like anything other than basic meat and potatoes and so that was my exposure. I about died. First of all, I am and have always been a huge animal lover. Yes, I eat meat but it was always the domestic kind!! I didn’t know if I wanted to cry, or gag, or both.
John, my friend’s Dad, assured me it “takes just like chicken! Just tiny chickens!” He laughed at me and my facial expressions as dinner was set on the kitchen counter (yes, I actually SAW IT) and prepared.
We sat down and I was still super sceptical but was also raised to be kind and gracious. My Grandmother always taught us that kindness and class were free so we had no excuse not to have both of them.
I will admit, in a weird way it was also somewhat interesting because I had never had the chance to eat anything that we didn’t raise on our farm, so it was gross and a little exciting at the same time.
I took a bite. A teensy tiny little bitty bite, and nothing bad happened. So, I took another, and another. By the time I had eaten the first piece I had to agree, it tasted just like chicken. Doesn’t everything??? It was actually really good!!! I went home and told my parents I had eaten rabbit and squirrel. I told my other friends at school, my Gramma, and so on. I was super proud of myself, and so grateful to John for making the weird less weird.
My world changed. I grew into a person who loves to try new things in food, anytime and anywhere. I may not always like it, but I will try it. I owe that curiosity to John.
After high school I didn’t see him as often, but every time I did, there was a tease, a laugh and a hug.
John passed away at age 85 just a week ago. He was tired, his body was tired, and I believe he was relieved to rest. He was happy and laughing until days before he passed. At his wake friends and I looked at family photos; the one of him in the wide brimmed hat, the mock wedding with him in a dress and heels (he had the legs for it), ones with funny faces and him laughing and with the biggest smiles.
That is the way I will remember him. Laughing, teasing, making jokes to make everyone else laugh. That is the way he gave, and changed a room when he was there.
And for me, he will always be the man that got me to eat rabbit and squirrel.
Thanks John. The world is just a little less fun without you here.