Remembering a few of the good days

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Colin, to the best of my recollection, made his very first Easter dinner for all of us on Sunday, April 5. It wasn’t a Seder meal, but it was very good.

It was even better due to the fact that all three of our kids were home. Like many families with a few 20-somethings, we do not get to enjoy the company of our kids being together around the dinner table as often as we’d like. When it does happen, it’s always a good day.

My dear friend Bill Horne used to say that we all should have a few days from every year that we can remember without hesitation. That’s an excellent objective.

Typically, for me, I remember holidays. And holiday meals.

In chronological sequence, I remember:

• For New Year’s Day, it’s always pork and sauerkraut.

• For Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s … (never mind).

• For Easter Sunday, it’s baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and whatever is left of the Easter basket candy.

• For Independence Day, it’s always DAPs (Dead Animal Parts) on the grill, corn on the cob and various salads. Maybe my sister’s famous cole slaw, too. (Vinegar, oil and sugar based. No mayonnaise.)

• For Labor Day, see Independence Day.

• For Thanksgiving, it’s always a substantial turkey (18-22 pounds), dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and apple pie. All this must be consumed – or at least have a serious dent put into it – prior to the kickoff of the first Thanksgiving Day football game. Leftovers are an expected necessity.

Thanksgiving dinner, for me, is a meal meant to be consumed at noon on the fourth Thursday of November and again around 6 p.m. on the same day. And if I happen to be in Canada on the second Monday in October, the same rule applies.

• For Christmas at our house, it’s usually a baked ham and a smaller bird (turkey). Plus the anticipated complements. We’ve yet to try the famous turducken.

This past Sunday, my Easter morning began as most mornings. I was at the office, trying to plan for the coming week and catch up on the most recent of my digressions.

Throughout the morning, I listened to the Easter Mass from Fr. Mark Payne, chaplain at Heart of the Nation, and the Marquette University choir. It was a wonderful mass.

After work, I called home and asked Colin if we needed anything. He said we were good. I asked about dinner. That, too, was good. He’d taken care of everything.

Colin is a 20-year-old college junior and a pretty darned good cook. When I got home, I was not at all surprised to see that Easter dinner was almost ready. We waited on Caitlin and Meghan for just a few minutes. And then it was game on. (Pam had to work at Highland District Hospital, but we saved a few morsels.)

Later, Meghan and I played basketball for an hour or so. We had a “best-of-10” challenge from the 3-point line. On her first two attempts, Meghan converted 8 of 10 shots. I made 7 of 10. (I am the sorest of losers.)

Down two games to none, I got serious. I made 13 straight from 3-point range and then 16 straight. (Even though it was a “best-of-10” format, you can shoot until you miss.)

We closed out with a very competitive game of H-O-R-S-E. (I forget who won.)

It was a good day.

On the day after Easter Sunday, two of my favorite local clerics, R.D. Hottle and Fr. Mike Paraniuk, stopped by The Highland County Press. We exchanged belated Happy Easter wishes. I also thought about what I’d missed from their respective Easter sermons.

Without question, I’ve missed a lot over the years. With a work history of more than 40 years, and with some of the country's more demanding employers, I know what I’ve done and what has been accomplished. I also realize what I have missed.

I’ve missed a lot.

I’m glad I didn’t miss Colin’s Easter dinner and time with family this week. It meant more to me than my now adult children know.

Without family, holidays aren’t all that special. I truly hope you had time with family on this most recent Easter holiday.

So, Professor Horne, I can tell you this much: I’ll do my best to remember these days. And I’ll always remember many other days from years gone by when we sat around our respective kitchen tables or at The Rocks.

Thanks for reading…

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press. This is his 35th consecutive year in the printing industry and 25th consecutive year as a newspaper editor. He still takes out the trash, too.