Oh, nuts!

September 22, 2024

After Mom had her open heart surgery, she came to live with me and Peter. She was worried about living alone, and we wanted her to be with us so we could give her the care (and companionship) she needed. There were a lot of funny incidents over the course of the 18 months that we all lived together. What follows is one of them…

Mom and her red-skinned peanuts:

My mom recently bought a bag of redskin peanuts at Bulk Barn. When she got home, she put them in a bowl and set it on the kitchen counter. One evening, I put the bowl on the table beside her armchair, thinking she might want to nibble on them–I also wanted to clean off my counter. The bowl sat there unnoticed all evening. Just as she was getting up to head to bed, she noticed the bowl of nuts. This is the conversation that followed:

Mom–What are these nuts doing here?

Me–I put them there so you could nibble on them, and I also wanted to clear up the kitchen counter.

Mom–Well, I don’t want to eat them, and they’re going back on the counter. Why don’t you eat them?

Me–Mom, I don’t like redskin peanuts.

Mom–Why not, they’re good. 

Me–Well, okay, Mom, but I still don’t care for them.

Mom–Why not? Peter likes them.

Me–Okay, I’ll leave them for Peter.

Mom–Anyway, there are cashews in the bowl.

Me–No, there aren’t.

Mom–Yes, there are–they’re in the bottom.

Me–Mom, I didn’t see any cashews in the bowl.

Mom–They’re broken up really small.

Me–Okay, but I’ll just leave the nuts for you and Peter.

Mom–I don’t understand why you won’t eat them.

Me–Mom, let me say this for you slowly—I…don’t…want…to..eat…those…nuts.

Mom–Fine. I’m going to bed.

(Sigh…Lord, give me patience).

Peter and I still laugh about this even today.

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