When I was in my early 20's, and my parents and I both lived in California, my father and I would carpool into work. On most days, Dad and I would eat lunch together as well. I really miss that. On just about every Friday, we would stop off at a mom and pop ice cream shop and get cones. It never failed that one of us, generally Dad (hi Dad!), would spill some on our shirt. We would always joke that we didn't want Mom to find out that we'd gone for ice cream, and 9 times out of 10, we would get busted. I don't remember how that started, and obviously my mom didn't care, but it became one of the family traditions.

When I would pick up Dad in the mornings, or the other way around, Mom always had some type of breakfast for us. Fruit, with some toast, or cheese. Something light but I remember it was always good. Dad and I would share it on the way in. There is no better way to start your morning.

Most afternoons, I would drive home, no matter whose car we took. Dad had a down (sp?) jacket that he wore quite often, even when the weather was warm. I never did figure out why he just didn't take it off on the ride home. He would get hot, so he would turn up the air conditioning to full blast. He had a Ford Mercury at the time, and the air conditioning in that thing would turn snot into icicles. No joke. I would be freezing to death all the way home. The hairs on my arms got so cold, they froze and fell off. They are just now starting to grow back. To answer your question, no, I have NEVER let him forget it.

Not only did ice cream end up on shirts, so did various other foods. I remember growing up (and it still happens), my mom or dad would get some food on their clothes. Dad would always blame my mom. "I wish you would stop flinging your food at me." It was just a normal part of the routine that was dinner time and I enjoyed, and still do, the easy banter between my parents.

The other day, the girls and I were eating breakfast at Huddle House and Chickie, who slathers her hash browns with Ketchup, dropped a fork full on to her lap. Imagine my delight when she turned to her sister and said: "Meelie, I wish you would be more careful when you are eating. Please stop throwing your hash browns at me. Mom just cleaned these pants."