Our famous family hibachi.
It’s older than I am. We were both brought back from Okinawa, Japan the second time my family was stationed there with the Air Force.
When my sister took the rainproof cover off the hibachi, a slew of cockroaches scattered. The last time the grill had been used was during the Fourth of July celebration, so the cockroaches had holed up during the rains between then and Labor Day weekend. Had I never been a Peace Corps Volunteer, those roaches may have turned me off from eating anything grilled on this hibachi. Yet I know better. First of all, the heat alone would kill anything that may be harmful. Moreover, we always clean the grill.
My sister assumed the grillmaster position.
About two years ago, she took over grillmaster duties from our father, who turned 84 this past April. Mom and Dad had a system: she seasoned the meat and he’d grill it. Now, Mom and my sister both season the meat and my sister grills it. I love how the grillmaster prepared for the occasion with her sun hat, a fly swatter, all the grilling implements and her smart phone. My contribution to the production was cleaning off the patio table and chairs before I dashed off to dance class.
The fruits of our collective labor.
Although the grillmaster had cooked ribs, chicken and steak, we saved the steaks for Sunday. Nonetheless, I was perfectly happy with my dinner. The only spoilers were the flies. I didn’t remember flies being such a nuisance when I was a child, eating outside on the patio. We ate dessert inside.
Before the next time I clean off the patio furniture, I’m going to research how to remedy the flies. I’m especially interested in rigging up a clear plastic ziplock bag half full of water and a few pennies. Allegedly that thwarts flies. I’d like to test that hypothesis. I just have to figure out how to rig it up. And find some pennies. Who still deals with cash, much less coins?