The Last Time I was Spanked

When I did wrong, my Dad used to spank me. At the time I didn't know that it hurt him as much as it hurt me. The hurt was just different.

My Mom wanted me to learn to play the piano. I'd much rather play than to travel across town to copy notes to a scale and plink around on a piano.

I skipped the lesson one time. On that particularly beautiful day the lure of the swimming pool was just too strong. When asked to explain, I planned on just saying, "I forgot" even though I hadn't. In thinking about my excuse, I decided that I might need a backup plan to stave off any possible physical repercussions so I bought a package of my Dad's favorite candy.

The swimming was great. Afterwards, I scurried home on my bike to carry out my plan. I placed the candy under my pillow thinking that I'd pull it out in a triumph of love prior to my Dad doling out the spanking I figured I was due. I was far too slow and I got the spanking before I could hold up the candy shield. I remember sitting there, crying, as I pulled the package of candy out from under my pillow. I held it up to my Dad, saying, "Here Dad, I bought this for you because I love you."

My Dad just melted. He never spanked me again. Even though I did get my well-deserved spanking, it worked out very well in the end. That was my last spanking.

My Favorite Movie

When my son was brand new I was still cooking professionally. The last place I cooked was not the classic French cuisine I cooked at the Olympic Hotel’s Golden Lion. It was at Fasano’s in Issaquah, simply because I worked days, Monday through Friday.

Anyway, Fasano’s was chosen as a location for a made-for-TV movie named The Secret Life of John Chapman. The star was Ralph Waite, the daddy on the Waltons. He was a college professor who didn’t understand his kids because he’d never worked anywhere but a university. He therefore took a sabbatical to “work in the real world” to better understand the son. One place he worked was a restaurant. Fasano’s was it. I was the “experienced” cook and he came in knowing nothing. I was supposed to be an extra but after the first scene they made me an actor instead. This was partially because even though I had told Ralph that the bread drawer would come all the way out to the floor if, upon opening it, one didn’t stand close enough he pulled it all the way out. At least he didn’t hit his foot as it could have broken a toe. The scene was still filming as he picked the drawer up to try to get it back in place. He couldn’t get it reinserted in the tracks and I knew he was dying out there so I jumped in and took the drawer and put it back in place. As I took the drawer I looked at him and adlibbed “Are you sure you’ve done this before!” With the drawer back in place, the scene ended.

The movie was a good experience and actually the bucks earned as an actor rather than an extra finished paying for the raggedy ol’ Trev’s entry into the world. He’s my son. Of all the movies I’ve ever seen, that’s the one that sticks out most in my mind.