Briana and Jake

When we had our family Christmas celebration, Briana (granddaughter) brought her friend Jake to meet us.  He’s a great guy and we were glad to meet him and talk with him.

How would you welcome a fine fellow like that into your family?  Wouldn’t you want to do something the memorable?

My thoughts went back about 55 years or so ago when another couple was in a similar process of getting to know one another better.  I was invited to Sunday dinner at Sylvia’s house.  It was the first time to sit at their family table and I was trying hard to make the best impression possible on everyone there.  Weren’t they trying to put me under the microscope to see what kind of a guy Sylvia had brought home?  I was nervous and uptight.  Then Sylvia’s dad passed me the butter dish.  In the process he greased my thumb from nail to wrist.  Once the shock had worn off, I realized what it was all about.  I had been accepted and it was okay to relax, laugh and enjoy being there with that family.  Wasn’t that a wonderful thing?

The question then became how to do something like that for Jake.  Then the opportunity came.  Briana was answering Sylvia’s questions about nursing school when she observed that it was not at all easy.  That’s when I said, “At least it’s a good field that will open opportunities for you.  It’s useful not like being a psych major.”

Jake said, “You know I’m a psych major.”

I replied, “Yes, I know.”

My question now is how long do you think it will take to realize he’d just been had?  Does he already know?  Will he ever figure it out?