Monday, August 28, 2017

Willy's Wisdom

We said our final goodbyes to dear Uncle Willy.  He and I shared a passion for food and a belief that the dinner table is the most pure and authentic place for family and friends to gather and be.   Uncle Willy is the most prolific contributor to The Baker’s Mann and the links to his recipes are below.  I will continue to cook and share the recipes that I find in his binders. 

With much love, Uncle Willy, I also impart some pieces of your wisdom about sharing, money and investing, and visiting.  And with this, The Baker’s Mann is off hiatus and returns to sharing recipes.  I think it would make Uncle Willy proud.

Sharing: One day Uncle Willy and I were having lunch at a cute little restaurant in the Houston museum district.  On the menu was a bread pudding.  I asked him “do you want to share dessert?”  He replied “No!  Get your own dessert!”  Uncle Willy was a generous man – he shared his time, his home, his dinner table, and more, but do not ask him to share dessert.

Money and investing: When I graduated from college, Uncle Willy shared his wisdom on managing my finances.  What was the secret of this wise CPA and CFO?  He drew a tic-tac-toe board and wrote “market cap” on the x-axis and “risk” on the y-axis and then advised me to select mutual funds that fit into each of the spaces.  He was a simple and straightforward guy who sent out emails to the family congratulating himself and informing others when his Kroger or Randall’s had Blue Bell on sale AND he had a manufacturer’s coupon.

Visiting: Uncle Willy rarely traveled without some sort of gift of food (that he usually baked himself).  And his visits were always too short.  I would ask: “Why don’t you stay longer?”  He would reply: “You don’t want to overstay your welcome.  Leave on a high note so that it makes them want more.”  As always, even this last time, you got your way. 

May his memory be for a blessing.

Lasagna

Our thoughts and prayers are with family and friends who are in Houston, Corpus Christi, and other areas impacted by the hurricane and surviving the flood waters.