Marcy Joins Us For Breakfast
February 23, 2009
My father-in-law broke his arm in two places. That is especially bad news, given his age, and the age of my mother-in-law. I was deputized to drop by their condo in Florida to see how they were coping.
A part-time aide was on her second day. When I arrived, we decided to go out for breakfast. We invited Marcy to come along.
“Are you sure?” she asked. We were sure.
Marcy helped Lester maneuver his walker, but I could easily have done that. When we ordered, she seemed hesitant. We assured her that she should join us, and that we would treat. (Do you know how inexpensively you can get breakfast in a retirement village in Florida, compared to where I live?)
As we ate and talked, Marcy visibly relaxed. I gave my in-laws updates on various family members, and I occasionally gave Marcy some background. We found out about her family too.
You could make the argument that it was helpful to have Marcy with us; that my mother-in-law did not trust someone she didn’t really know to stay alone in the apartment waiting for our return.
But I know that sharing a meal (our treat!) was an important cue to Marcy -- these people will treat me, in some small way, at least, like family.
Mealtimes Matter Video
from Miriam Weinstein
About Miriam
Miriam Weinstein is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. As a journalist, she has won several awards from the New England Press Association. Her work has appeared in Boston Magazine, the Boston Globe magazine, Hope, and ParentSource. A former staff member for North Shore Weeklies and freelancer for Essex County Newspapers, she writes restaurant reviews and food columns as well as features on a wide variety of subjects. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband and has two grown children.
The Surprising Power of Family Meals
In her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, Miriam Weinstein shows how this basic human institution helps nourish and strengthen our families today.