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Re:
There's a good chance of that, jean. My parents were born during the Depression, and raised during WW II, so they understood full well the meanings behind scarcity, rationing, conservatism and so on, especially when it came to food. However, in this particular case, it wasn't as if I was served the perogies, refused them, and they got thrown away. Believe me, that would never happen! The best part of the memory is that my dad not only didn't get upset and force me to eat those perogies, but that he decided to offer an absolutely wonderful alternative instead! 
posted by
JimmyA
on March 18, 2013 at 7:44 AM
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Re:
That's okay, sam. I've always known that everybody's tastes are different. Like I wrote, everybody . . . and I mean everybody . . . in my family loves perogies. But for one reason or another, they're just not my cup of tea. Hey, I'm sure there may be a few things that I enjoy that others, including family members, might scoff at! But I guess that's what makes the world go 'round . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 18, 2013 at 7:38 AM
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Re:
It's nice to know, adnohr, that there are others out there who grew up in a similar household! We were always taught to never waste food, or take any meal for granted. But hey, a hot pastrami on rye with swiss cheese and mustard is one helluva sandwich, and this is one helluva memory for me too . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 18, 2013 at 7:35 AM
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Re:
Tit for tat, C C T. I've never heard of a bacon sarnie either! And you may be right. We were brought up in an atmosphere of "waste not, want not," which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, in this case, my dad was not only somehow persuaded to allow me to skip the perogies, but he went the extra mile and made a special sandwich for me too. Yes, parental memories are nice . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on March 18, 2013 at 7:32 AM
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it sounds like we all raised our children about the same back in the day.
posted by
jeansaw
on March 17, 2013 at 10:24 PM
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I think it was a combination of all those things! And, the perogies sounds a lot like a pasty from the U.P. in Michigan! I just love those bland meat and potatoes in a thin dough! LOL! sam 
posted by
sam444
on March 17, 2013 at 9:48 PM
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The same rule applied when I was growing up, Jimmy. You ate what was in front of you, or you didn't eat. I have to agree with TAPS comment. The memory of it is lasting, and that's what counts.
posted by
adnohr
on March 17, 2013 at 7:28 PM
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Strange tale Jimmy, I suppose times were hard even in your youthful days. Waste would not be tolerated as it is today. Perhaps your Daddy saw himself in you that day and felt a little more compassion than was usual. It is nice to remember good things about one's parents if possible they had a hard task and only one hit at the bulls eye. I don't think I have ever heard of that sandwich, but I bet it was better than a bacon sarnie. 
posted by
C_C_T
on March 17, 2013 at 12:03 PM
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Re: Jimmy
Thanks, Justi. Actually, it might have been a little more apropos to say that this was a "delicious" story. Glad you enjoyed it . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 17, 2013 at 10:08 AM
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Jimmy
That was such a sweet story. I loved it.
posted by
Justi
on March 16, 2013 at 7:44 PM
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Re:
Good to hear, TAPS. And you're right . . . the reasoning behind it doesn't really matter all that much! Dad gave me both a nice memory and a wonderful sandwich! Glad you enjoyed this tale . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 10:41 AM
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Wonderful post. Who knows why. Who cares why. This whole thing sounds like my dad and I just loved him.
posted by
TAPS.
on March 16, 2013 at 10:02 AM
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Re: Maybe he just wanted you to have a good New Year's Eve dinner
Exactly, Ciel. In fact, it was still being prepared! There's also a chance that this may have been one of dad's favorite sandwichs, and he just wanted to "turn me on" to it! Whatever it was, it worked! Hot pastrami on rye with swiss cheese and mustard really is one hell of a sandwich! It was a good New Years Eve indeed . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 7:01 AM
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Re: Jimmy
I never thought of it that way before, Naut, but you're probably right. Technically there was nothing to refuse yet! And usually there was no negotiating with dad about anything! I really did catch him in the right mood at the right time! Since I married a vegetarian, I rarely get any meat anymore ( which isn't necessarily a bad thing, weight and health-wise ) but when the opportunity is there for a nice pastrami on rye with swiss . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:58 AM
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Re:
I suppose he was, lustor. Or perhaps, some of that "spirit" may have been in him ( dad did love his booze )! Either way, I didn't get whacked, and I got both a nice sandwich and a wonderful memory out of it . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:49 AM
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Re:
Believe it or not, lovelylady, that's actually something that my eldest brother and I had always thought about doing as well . . . visiting Poland and trying to trace some of our family's roots. No, I've never tried chicken perogies, but they do sound good! And I also love keilbasa! Mmm, mmm good! By the way . . . Czuje sie dobrze, dziekuje!
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:47 AM
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Re:
It really was, FSI. Like I said, I hadn't even heard of pastrami before! But damn that was one helluva sandwich . . . !
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:22 AM
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Re: Lovely memory, Jimmy..
That's how I've always felt, Katray. It's a shame sometimes that dads in general don't get much credit for being a "parent" or a "person" anymore. From my ( our ) generation, dads just paid the bills and spanked us when we were bad. But sometimes they can surprise you . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:21 AM
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Re: a very wise Dad you had. I think that he appreciated your honesty...he
Well, Kabu, we were brought up not having that option. We basically had two choices . . . eat what was served, or go to bed hungry. It's not as though we were forced to eat gruel each night. Mom made a nice variety of dishes. It was just that when dinner was on the table, there was no turning anything away. Yes, dad made that a very special New Years Eve for me. I'll never forget . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:17 AM
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Re: JimmyA
I suppose he did, Wiley. Unfortunately, with my dad being sort of a hard-nosed, lunch pail, meat & potatoes kind of guy, such gifts were actually rare. I guess that's why I was so shocked by both my audacity, and his response. But it was a wonderful experience nonetheless . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on March 16, 2013 at 6:09 AM
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Maybe he just wanted you to have a good New Year's Eve dinner
like everyone else... And besides, it wasn't actually on the table yet.
posted by
Ciel
on March 15, 2013 at 9:05 PM
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Jimmy
I love pastrami! There's a Jewish delicatessen in T.O. (that's Toronto to you, LOL) where I never fail to stop in if I'm in the neighbourhood...And your Dad wasn't being inconsistent: you see, you weren't at the table, nothing had been served - it was a different situation, more open-ended, one in which negotiation was still possible...
posted by
Nautikos
on March 15, 2013 at 5:26 PM
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sounds really good, glad you were able to get something new from your dad, maybe he was in a New Years spirit
posted by
Lanetay
on March 15, 2013 at 2:20 PM
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Dzien dobry, Jimmy!
Jak sie masz? Oddly enough, I don't care for those, either. I'm not Polish, but I have eaten them, and don't like them. At least, not the potato ones. Have you ever tried one with chicken though? Those are pretty good!
My Grammy used to make saur kraut and she always tried to get me to try some, but who on earth wants to eat pickled sour cabbage?? Certainly not I! I do have to admit that I do like brat wurst though. And I love keilbasa!
I also quite like blintzes. Especially cherry filled ones.
The summer I met my friend Kamilla, she extended an invitation to me to come and visit with her and her family in Brwinow, Poland. Sadly, I never made it there. Maybe one day. I'd love to go...
posted by
lovelyladymonk
on March 15, 2013 at 12:53 PM
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That worked out very well. That was kind of him for going to the supermarket to get you something that you ended up liking.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on March 15, 2013 at 11:43 AM
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Lovely memory, Jimmy..
Fathers can be people too.:)
posted by
Katray2
on March 15, 2013 at 11:21 AM
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a very wise Dad you had. I think that he appreciated your honesty...he
would have seen your little white anxious face and wanted you to have a treat like the rest of the family were anticipating. I was a picky eater as a kid...not worse, I never ate anything if I could avoid it.
posted by
Kabu
on March 15, 2013 at 10:51 AM
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JimmyA
Your dad served you justice for your age, and he gave you the wonderful gift of understanding.
posted by
WileyJohn
on March 15, 2013 at 10:41 AM
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