MIL Makes Dinner

FosterAbba here, posting another update from Yondalla:

Years ago my MIL used to make me crazy. She has mellowed as she has got older...or maybe just got tired. She no longer buzzes around, tisking and redoing everything. I do in many ways love her deeply, but she can still be aggravating.

On our second night here she cooked dinner. It is a recipe my kids love so much that it has become a regular at our house. She knows this.

She prepared the dish, put it in the oven and told me that it was very important that it cook for a full hour. I said okay. She started to leave for her cottage but seemed worried. She got out a piece of paper and wrote down that it should cook for one hour at 450 degrees.

Then she left. I remembered that she and my FIL both have become very dependent on a schedule of meals, snacks, and on time. I asked Gary to call on the intercom and ask, "What time do you usually eat dinner?"

MIL responded, "We eat at 6:30, so the chicken needs to start cooking at 5:30. It won't take too long for the oven to heat up, but you should probably turn it on by 5:20. I already got the broccoli cut and ready and it won't need to be turned on until 6:20. I will be over in time to do that, so you don't need to worry about it. I will take care of the noodles too, but it is very important that the chicken cooks a full hour so don't forget to turn on the oven at about 5:20. It will be okay if the chicken cooks a little long ."

Gary stared at me. I said, "Just say thank you." He pushed the button and did. He then said to me,"Don't you know all of that?"

Yeah. I know. She knows I know. I was glad to realize it just doesn't irritate me like it used to do.