When I was young, my dad, my mom, and I would go visit my aunt (dad’s sister) who lived in Florida every few years for a week or two. My dad’s parents would spend a good chunk of their winter down there as well. During our overlapping visit, my parents would usually take at least one night and go out for a nice meal for just the two of them. I’d roll with Grandma and Grandpa to Long John Silvers.

I have a handful of memories 30+ years later of my grandpa and many more years of memories with my grandma, but those dinners out are probably the strongest memory I have of the two of them together and the only one I can think of that is the three of us.

I usually regret the decision a few hours after visiting, but a chicken dinner with fries for slaw (with vinegar splashed on top) and a few hush puppies clog my arteries and fill my heart every few months or so…