OK folks, I’m sure you’ve seen this image while dining in a restaurant…. A sweet little old lady, wrapping dinner rolls into a paper napkin and stuffing them into a big ol’ purse resting in her lap.
When I was much younger, I was puzzled by these actions. Then later in life, I made fun of them (Lord forgive my young stupid self). Not too long ago, I felt sorrow as I watched a poor little old lady stashing rolls into her purse. A sadness overcame my heart. I wondered how I could help. Should I offer her the dinner rolls from the basket on our table? Should I sneak a $10 bill into her purse as it gapped open from its fluffy contents? Or should I just harden my heart and look away…doing nothing? Truth be told, I’ve done all of those things. Yet, I’m still not sure which one was the right thing to do.
Fast forward a multitude of years (in what seemed like the blink of an eye)… My family and I were at a restaurant and I suddenly realized… I’m that old lady and I’m the one stashing rolls now.
Well, to be quite honest, it wasn’t rolls…it was biscuits from breakfast with my family at Cracker Barrel recently. Since I don’t carry a big purse, I asked the server for a to-go box to assist my biscuit stashing. But still the reality shook me. Even worse…not only did I take the leftover biscuits, I also grabbed the butter cups and the jellies. Yup, I sure did…both the grape and the strawberry! I thought nothing of my actions. Until I caught myself wrapping the biscuits in the checkered paper that lined the basket. OMG…that reality hit me like a ton of stale biscuits. I’m now the old lady smuggling crusty contraband!
I wonder if there was a mirror nearby reflecting my gray haired self in the act…would I have stopped with embarrassment? What if I noticed others looking at me and judging me as I previously judged other old ladies? Thankfully no mirrors amid the antique decor still present at that particular Cracker Barrel location. I also did not look around at folks near me that may or may not have been staring and judging. Though I’m fairly certain my adult children were laughing and shaking their heads at me. One of them was probably hiding their face, trying to avoid being an accomplice to my uncouth behavior.
Ohhhhh, it gets better. I didn’t stop at the biscuits and their basket friends. I asked my son to pass me the bowl of sawmill gravy that my grandson didn’t eat. To my son’s look of questioning judgement, I responded with…. “Gotta have gravy with the biscuits!” With a shake of his head, he passed the bowl of gravy to me. I gently moved the paper wrapped biscuits and their condiment friends in the to-go container to make room for their new thick liquid friend.
My son chose to make a hasty exit from the table and into the store to pay our breakfast tab. I was in a food glory as I scraped the gravy from the bowl and into the styrofoam container. By the way…scraping gravy from a ceramic bowl with a metal spoon is by no means a silent sneak.
Upon completion, I smiled and patted the top of the container with glee. Yup, I’m in that club of old ladies stashing food now! Rationalizing to myself, that my modern way of using a to-go container was much better than the older ladies that preceded me. At least my biscuits won’t take on the aroma of Chanel No. 5 in the bottom of my purse!
For dinner later that evening, I was ever so grateful for a free and simple meal of biscuits and gravy. I even put them on a pretty plate before they went round and round on reheat mode in my microwave. The remaining stash brought a smile to my face as I envisioned biscuits with butter and jelly for breakfast. Yumm!
As I enjoyed my free dinner, I was sure to text my son and say thank you for a delicious dinner and future breakfast(s)! To which I received a text with a rolling eye emoji and a thumbs-up! I laughed knowing he’s young and ignorant to elderly food insecurities.
And before you judge, please know that most restaurants throw those food items away. A great deal of commercial food waste is created in our communities. I for one, do not waste food of any sort at home. Should I be embarrassed for following the actions of other old ladies, stashing rolls in their big purses? Nope, not at all. Not one bit. And now I get it! I totally understand the process. In fact, I should have been doing this for many years.
Perhaps it’s time to trade-in my wristlet/crossbody purse for a big ol’ lady purse. I predict a trip to the Goodwill Store in the near future to search for a roll stashing, yet stylish accomplice.
So, if you see me at a restaurant in the act of wrapping and stashing fluffy contents…just smile and give me a thumbs-up! And if you’re smart like me, you’ll do the same. It’s perfectly OK…you’re in good company!
Well folks, I’m off to make myself breakfast. Sure wish I had some Cracker Barrel biscuits right now! Cheers, to keeping life frugal and delicious! Until next time….
Chauncey
P.S. On a related note…Thank you Cracker Barrel for keeping the former logo and decor. Those simple things bring the same comfort as your delicious foods do. This world needs those constants in our lives. Here’s a link to the Cracker Barrel menu. Go on in and tell them I sent you. Oh, and be sure to bring your big ol’ purse! LOL!!
https://www.crackerbarrel.com/menu
