A Stirring Tale

My father’s people came from what was known as hill country long before political boundaries were established here. My mother’s clan lived along the eastern bank of the river and were part of the dozen or so families to first settle that area.

Of course, as part of tribal tradition, my father for his part stirred with his left hand and held the skillet handle with the right. Frying catfish, making French toast on Sunday nights, searing a steak before setting it on the grill—stir with the left, handle in the right.

So when he decided to walk the fifty miles and ford the river, he brought his ways. And when my mother against the wishes of her family and her neighbors decided to marry this outsider, she brought her tradition into the mix.

My mother stirred with the right and the left gripped the handle. Making a chicken-vegetable stir fry, or a roux, or braising beef tips. Stir with the right.

To their credit (or so I think), our parents allowed us—their five children—to decide which hand would handle the chore of stirring. But it wasn’t easy. Back then, long before phrases like inalienable rights came into our vocabularies, folks were more than touchy about such essential issues. Our barn was burned down three times, and I never met my father’s family until I made the trek when I was in my mid-50s.

Now, as we are enlightened, the law of the land allows either hand for stirring, and no serious challenge to this legal precedent has arisen in a dozen years. Perhaps my parents would feel vindicated. RIP, Mom and Dad.

Semper libero!

Comments

tastytastebuds: Stop! You’re making me hungry!

masonmcwhorl: Go back to you own damn country!

historyhound; The founding fathers through their brilliant dialogues anticipated the ever-changing environment that would be created by such an amalgam of tribal traditions.

pollyforpeace: CARNIVORES are DESTROYING our ENVIRONMENT!!!!!!!

gerta47: Your why are homeland is a cesspool nation.

saintx: Justice for Left-handers!

ghaws: Beautiful!

littlebiddy: @masonmcwhorl No, you leave!

gardendelights: Recipe for stir-fry?

william86: Explains why kids are so screwed up these days and getting worse.

masonmcwhorl: @littlebiddy No, you leave!

acamustoo: Life is the sum of all your choices.