I saw this picture the other day. The one below, not the one above. Try and focus.

It’s a picture of my maternal grandmother and grandfather.

I’d never seen a picture of them looking so in love. Look at the way she clings to him. How her head tilts to his in cohesion as if she’s the missing piece to his puzzle. Her ankles intertwined together, as they lazily swing back and forth, like she’s sitting on the docks staring out into the mysterious and ever powerful ocean of life.

And he with an ever smug look on  his face. Master of the Universe, I surmise. Tie slightly loosened, arm wrapped snug around the waste of his beloved. Chin up, valiant charming prince. Holding her tightly as if she is his entire universe, as if life begins and ends in her arms.

Love. 

When I looked at the picture a second time, I zoned in on my grandfather and saw something that I had never noticed before.

I saw a face peering back at me that I kiss everyday. A face that giggles, and nuzzles, and tells me she loves me more times that I can count.  A face that up until now I had always told people, I don’t know who she looks like. With her curly eyelashes, slanted eyes, and high broad cheekbones.

And then it hit me, She looks just like my Papa.

And I’m reminded that love is so powerful.

That my grandparents rapture was so deep, their love so strong that it traveled through time, to live with me here over 70 years later, to manifest itself in the hopes and dreams of a beautiful little girl.  It’s as if they sent their love to me, because they can’t be with me now. They have thrown this cloak over me, hooding my face, my shoulders, and covering me entirely down to my feet. Covering me with love forever and always.

That’s what love does.

It lasts forever.  It lives on forever. It brings joy always. It cherishes all whom it touches.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Not only did my grandparents pass down their love to me, but incidentally they also passed down these hooters I carry around.

Jugs some call it.

I don’t mean to change the subject so abruptly, but I know A LOT about hooters.

Hooters Chickens Wings.  And how to make your mouth sing.

My Grands may have never been privy to tasting these morsels of sweet sunshine, but I have a sneaky suspicion it would have been one more thing for them to fall in love with.

I know you will.  So share these hooters (wings) with someone you love.

Chicken Wings Just Like Hooters

Makes 30 wings

Ingredients:

Canola Oil for frying
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Louisiana Hot Sauce
1/8 tsp ground pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt
30 wing pieces, thawed
Blue Cheese Dressing, Carrot Sticks and Celery as accompaniment

Directions:

1. In a large plastic ziploc bag combine flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt. Place wings inside the bag, and shake to coat evenly.  Place the coated wings into the refrigerator for atleast 60 minutes or up to 24 hours.
2. Heat oil in your deep fryer to 375 degrees.
3. While oil is heating, in a medium sized saucepan combine butter, hot sauce, ground pepper, and garlic powder over low heat. Continue to heat until butter is melted and all the ingredients are well blended. Set aside.
4. Once the oil is hot enough, place the wings in the hot oil and fry for about 10 minutes or until the edges of the wings turn dark brown. Remove from oil, and drain on a paper towel.
5. While they are still hot, toss the wings in the hot sauce until each wing is coated evenly. The easiest way to do this is to add a small amount of the hot sauce to a container with a lid, place a few wings inside, cover tightly with the lid and shake.
6. Remove wings place on a platter and serve warm with blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrot sticks.