I went to Cracker Barrel today for the first time in quite a while. Being there, in hopes of some New Year's collards and black eye'd peas, reminded me of my mother when she had her first bout with breast cancer.  Every night before close, she would call down to the restaurant and ask me to bring home  some dumplings and hash brown casserole. Her chemo made her so sick that there were only a couple foods that she could eat without making her sick. I would pack up all the dumplings that were left over in a quart jar and fill up a to-go plate of casserole for a late night dinner with her at the kitchen table.
I may not of been as good of a son than she deserved, who had his priorities way out of wack most of the time, but seeing the smile on her face as we sat at the table late into the night talking was always a good feeling.