The Big Pan

“The big pan is NOT OUT IN THE YARD AGAIN.”

No response.

“TONY there are SLUGS ALL OVER IT.”

“Lol”

“Love me” he finally texts back.

To make my family their favorite chicken, I have to use ‘The Big Pan’.

This pan is loved and hated.

Loved by Mom because I can feed my family their favorite chicken with the use of this ridiculously large baking sheet.

Hated by Dad because he does a lot of the dishes and The Big Pan does not fit in the sink or the dishwasher, and needs to be soaked in order to scrub off the baked on bits.

So in the yard the pan quietly goes.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Until everyone wants favorite chicken again.

Then I am left to clean off not only baked on maple syrup and garlic salt but now a varying array of non-edibles that are just as attracted to the favorite chicken as my children are.

Slugs, spiders, bits of chicken poop left in exchange from a beloved free-range hen.

I say “don’t put the pan in the yard”.

I say “please just clean it this time”.

I say “Your example is teaching the children bad habits”.

But as we round the corner to our first wedding anniversary, I can't help but chuckle to myself as I wipe off the slugs and lovingly make everyone's favorite chicken in my favorite Big Pan.

...

MJ