Big Daddy

I was taking a painting to a competition, stopped for gas along the way, and ran up on an old friend. I found out tonight that he died yesterday (8/30/04), so this is dedicated to him...

When I first met you, I thought, man, this is the ugliest guy I've ever seen.... boy was I wrong....

What I found out was, you and I are not so very different... both divorced, raising our teenage sons, similar circumstance, similar lives...

There's a few things that are just between us, one involved a transaction involving some golf clubs that could have gotten you in some big trouble at work... I remember what you said....

I remember our talks about how life works, and about kids, and about women......

I know we share a similar view of the world.... that life is just life and you need to be happy in your own skin and live every day like it was the last one you get to have....

You did that Big Daddy... you had a wonderful life, your outlook on the way the world goes round is an inspiration to us all....

When I saw you yesterday, the first thing you did was shake my hand... then you hugged me... I'll never forget that....

I recall we talked about work, I showed you the painting I had, you said if it didn't sell you'd buy it...... it's your's dude, it's your's forever..... we exchanged email addresses and I had hoped to hear from you... and in a way I did, I was blessed beyond measure to have seen you on your last day with us....

The last thing you said to me as we parted ways was, "I love you Mike"... you shouted it across the parking lot at the gas station..... I shouted back... "You too Big Daddy"

You are a beautiful person, a bright shiny spot in my soul now..... you helped me to learn that our outsides are only mere shells, that beauty lies within... my only regret is, on our parting.... I wish I had shouted....

"I love you too Big Daddy....."

I'm gonna miss you ya crazy old bastard..... the world is a lesser place without you......

You'll always be remembered here......

Always....

Mike

Big Daddy's Peppers

These are the BEST pickled Jalepeno's ever...

8 cups cider vinegar
12 cups water
1 cup salt
1 tsp minced garlic per pint jar
A bunch of jalepeno's small to medium size

Boil vinegar, water and salt. Add garlic to each pint jar. Wash peppers, cut off stems and put into jars. Boil lids and rings, pour boiling vinegar mixture over pepper and put lids on tight.

This is Big Daddy's original recipe, I tend to like a little less salt, about 3/4 cup. I think next year I'm going to put pearl onions in with the peppers too, maybe even do more of a garden mix, carrots, cauliflower....

The secret to making these peppers so good is the cider vinegar and cutting the tops off the peppers. Removing the tops lets the hot vinegar get inside quickly, and keeps the peppers fresh. They're best kept in the refrigerator, that way they are cool, crunchy, and spicy hot all at the same time.