Here is the Facebook post I made yesterday after making it down to Memphis…
I was getting anxious as I got closer to town and started wondering about my life choices that led to my late arrival time. Earlier in the day I had made the command decision that my service guys had everything under control at work and I could slip down to Memphis on Friday night. When I got home… I noticed our box of “Hello Fresh” had not arrived from UPS yet, but was listed as “out for delivery”.
Man… I really hate to leave fresh food outside on the stoop. Once I get delivery confirmation, I could call the neighbors to pick it up? But, I thought it might be fun to have one of the meals for Angela and I to cook on Saturday night in the Memphis apartment. I was just about to give up hope and leave when I heard the UPS Van pull up… It was now 1 PM. I sorted out the meals. I left 2 at home that I thought Angela might like the most for herself next week. I found one recipe that has yams… Not sure how that made the selection cut… Angela hates potatoes. I brought the pork and yams meal with me in the car with the hopes I could substitute a side when I made her dinner. Assuming Summer is still not eating, this would be perfect.
Earlier in the day… Folks were mentioning the riot potential of Memphis. I am clueless about national news. I keep track of Tazewell county, automotive, and world news. This incident in Memphis was unknown to me.
As I got closer to Memphis, I started to wonder if I would get trapped in a riot… have to abandon the car… see our family Prius go up in flames and and be interviewed on TV… just to admit that it was my Hello Fresh delivery that led to all of my current situation. My mind wanders while I drive. I am NOT making light of the ordeal or suffering this community and the family of Tyre Nichols. I just really didn’t know what to expect.
After I got to Target House… I sat and watched the coverage for almost 2 hours with Angela and Summer. The Memphis CBS station, WREG, had a wonderful local minister (tried to google him this morning to no avail) helping the local anchor cover the situation. I have never been so close to something like this and I felt like everybody in Memphis was doing the right things to get ahead of this powder keg situation. As far as I know, nothing was destroyed or out of control last night. 
While we were watching coverage… I explained the Hello Fresh idea and pitched my idea for dinner on Saturday night. Summer just laughed at me. “Dad, did you look at my Saturday schedule?”. I had not. Summer then explained that our 1st Saturday appointment was at 1 PM for labs. At 2:30 they will go over the results… And if they are anything like they have been over the past week… We will be at St. Jude till 9 or 10 on Saturday night for transfusions.
So much for best intentions.
While we were watching the Tyre Nichols coverage… I asked if anyone wanted a bowl of ice cream. Angela had bragged earlier in the week that she found Spumoni at Kroger. We don’t normally have ice cream in the house… But Spumoni is an automatic purchase when found.
Angela said “yes please” and I headed to the kitchen only to get yelled at by my daughter. “What about me dummy?” she said indignantly. “I didn’t think food was something you are into” I scoffed back at her. She wanted ice cream… That was a victory point. I made her a super small bowl, thinking she didn’t I didn’t want to waste this precious purchase if it was left to melt.
She ate that bowl. Then asked for another when I was up again.
Then, at 10PM… Wanted a pot pie. So, I microwaved and then oven-toasted the gooey microwaved doughy crust. GROSS!
She gobbled that up as well.
So much for the appetite issues. Drugs are magical things.
This morning she ate two instant waffles while I attempted an omelet with bits from the giant veggie tray from Mom’s 70’s birthday party and Angela’s leftover ham and cheese sandwich. Follow my Instagram @planetstahl for more amazing recipes.
https://www.instagram.com/planetstahl/
OH!!! I forgot… I had a friend of Angela’s ask if she and some coworkers could get Summer something. I have been fielding this question a lot. We really don’t need anything, but Summer does love little tidbits and trinkets when we get mail calls. I shared her Amazon list and remembered that she had a label maker as one of the things she wanted.
The package arrived and the co-worker had a note included and asked that Summer annoy her Mom with the gift if possible. While Angela was showering… Summer slapped a label on her Mothers’ phone case. I had a laugh over the phone when I heard this. When I brought it up this morning… I got more laughs from Summer and a look of disdain from Ang.
So… That worked! Laughs and annoyance all in one gift!