Short Ribs

Prudence used a recipe from Bon Appetit.

“This meat is melt–in-your-mouth tender,” said Eleanor. She and Chauncey were enjoying braised short ribs at their daughter and son-in-law’s apartment. Prudence, their daughter, had used a recipe from Bon Appetit. The rest of the meal included swiss chard sauteed with onions and garlic as well as slices of baguette with roasted peppers and ricotta cheese. The table was alive with reds, yellows and greens.

Georgia hung around for a photo op.

When Eleanor and Chauncey arrived for dinner, Prudence was playing Simon and Garfunkle on the turntable Michael, her husband, had given her for Christmas. Both cats came out to say hello. Mason disappeared after sniffing Chauncey’s shoe but Georgia hung around for a photo op.

Eleanor admired the art.

Eleanor admired the art on the walls, particularly the collage featuring an image of Marilyn Monroe. Eleanor was reminded of the fact that Prudence shared a birthday with Marilyn and wrote a report on her in school. Michael said his friend’s brother made the collage many years ago, before Michael met Prudence.

Prudence and Michael were married a year ago at what used to be the Ahmanson Ranch. The sun was setting as they promised to love one another forever. Family and friends celebrated with much toasting and dancing until the shuttle driver announced it was her last run down the mountain and whoever was left would be camping out.

After dinner, Chauncey and Michael talked about their helicopter ride yesterday. Michael is a professional photographer and had to get aerial shots of some houses in Bel Air and Malibu. Chauncey was invited to go along and help locate the houses. He said his favorite part of the trip was flying out over the Pacific and hearing the pilot say to Michael, “I hope you’re done because we have about 6 minutes of fuel left.” Michael did not take the pilot seriously and kept shooting.

Prudence was playing Simon and Garfunkel.

The onramp for the 405 north was closed so Chauncey took an old route home through Beverly Canon from Sunset. He used to work at UCLA and was a vanpool driver to offset the transportation costs of commuting from Altadena to Westwood. He remembered picking Prudence up from day care and the two of them sitting up in the front with the rest of the van stretching out behind them. That was over 20 years ago but seemed like yesterday now.