August 21, 2007 - Writer's prompt for August

Our writing prompt for our group this month was:

Missed Connections or misconnections

Below is my meager attempt.

Misconnections are a daily occurrence in my life.

I own a deaf husband who often says, “You didn’t tell me.” From my point of view he also has selective hearing.  Currently he has a 50/50 mix of selective hearing and deafness.  Let me give you a prime example.

My retired husband does the majority of the grocery shopping,  When he retired he became my “housewife”.  Trust me, every gal should have one.

Last Thursday he went going grocery shopping.

I said, “I need Ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese to make homemade manicotti.”  

I actually have his attention for a change.  He looks at me; a good sign.  I continue to explain with one flat hand raise above another to demonstrate the size of the ricotta cheese container.

“I need one of the small Ricotta cheese containers.  I think its 1 pound or 12 ounces.” Not the big one.  I prefer whole milk if you can find it.”

He nods – another good sign.

I continue saying, “I need a one pound package of Mozzarella cheese and I like those large pasta sea shells.  You know the big ones. . . I like those the best.  If you can’t find those, then get a box of lasagna noodles.  But, shake the box to make certain they aren’t broken.  Keep shaking boxes until you find one that isn’t broken up.”

He nods absently.  I think I have lost his attention.

I call out to him, “You wrote it down? Mozzarella Cheese, Ricotta cheese and pasta sea shells?”

He tosses me that look I know all too familiar, saying, “I don’t need to write it down.”

He leaves and I start the laundry and think about last week when I asked for FETA cheese – a whole chunk not the crumbled kind.   I sent him to Ingles where I know they have it.

On that occasion he returned empty handed from both Wal Mart and Ingles and said, “They don’t have Feta cheese.”

Inwardly I sighed knowing full well Ingles has it in the expensive cheese department as well as the less expensive dairy isle.

Unknown to him I went to Ingles the next day and got two packages of the Feta Cheese as I use it to garnish my Summer Squash sauté. Both packages are still on the refrigerator door.

Later as I fold laundry he brings in the groceries announcing proudly, “I got what you wanted.”

Unpacking I find a 2 pound tub of Ricotta cheese – the big one and lasagna noodles, not shells.  I shake them – they are not broken.  That works. The final item out of the bag IS a chunk of FETA cheese which was not the brand that Ingles carries, so I guess he actually found it at Wal Mart.  It doesn’t do me any good.  To make Manicotti I need Mozzarella cheese.

Looks like I’ll have to get Mozzarella cheese tomorrow.