forfor wasbac bToday is Terry’s birthday. He would be 19. Now, we don’t do a whole lot for birthdays, but everyone gets to pick their birthday dinner.  So, while Cassie and I were out picking up a few groceries today, I bought shrimp for Troy & Cassie’s dinner.  (I don’t eat seafood… sorry but bugs of the ocean – no thanks!)

Now Terry LOVED shrimp – he even tried to eat them uncooked when he was little. So I thought it would be a wonderful way to remember him today. 

Terry has eaten shrimp for years. He was always our more adventurous eater, wanting to try everything even as a little tiny guy.  (I mean how many 3-4 year olds like salad??)  It was just about three years ago that I got brave and decided to try fixing lobsters.  I’m not sure if it was for Troy’s birthday or Christmas, but the one thing that was absolutely clear was Terry’s reaction. 

I had fixed broiled lobster tails and shrimp for Troy, Cassie & Terry. I had given Cassie her lobster & was carrying Troy’s & Terry’s to them.  I sat Terry’s food in front of him & he said “Whoa, big shrimp!”  I said “No, it’s a lobster.”  “Lobster” he parroted as he grabbed hold of the lobster meat displayed on the shell.  I walked past & gave Troy his plate.  When I walked back past Terry, he was signing “more”  and saying  “Bob {oh that’s me — he couldn’t always get out Mom) more lob-ster.”  I told him that I didn’t have any more lobster, but he could have some shrimp.  He said “shimp!” excitedly. 

I walked into the kitchen and fixed him a small bowl of shrimp.  By the time I got back to him with them, he had disassembled the tail shell & was sucking on the pieces. He happily took the bowl of shrimp with a demand for sauce & demolished the rest of his dinner.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lobster devoured with such absolute relish.