(prompt: 'melt' 06/03/2020)

There are many kinds of 'melt-downs' these days. There are perfectly public ones indulged in by the widest spectrum of age and ethnic groupings, and then there are some extremely private emotional ones. Then there are those that sweep the globe, magically creating terror in the hearts of Earth's emotionally and cerebrally vulnerable inhabitants.

Seems to me, yesterday's 'melt-downs' were a heap simpler. Here's a tale of yesteryear to prove my point - it's an excerpt from my 'Old McLarsen had some Farms' memoir - Book 1, Ch. 10 'Food for thought'

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On another memorable occasion, it was I who let the side down—despite my wood stove's valiant and trustworthy contribution to turning concoctions in the mixing bowl into masterpieces on the menu.

"How many triumphs accidentally evolve out of near tragedies?" I wonder. Like the one that unfolded the day I made my famous Chocolate cake. It began simply enough with a superb Chocolate cake recipe I decided to double.

"What was it you forgot?" He knows, my man, but he loves teasing me about it and hearing the story again... and again.

"The flour," I reply. These days I can say it bravely. "But it wasn't that I forgot it altogether. I didn't double it, like all the other ingredients"

"And that makes a difference?" Obviously, Kanute will never be competing on TV shows like Masterchef.

Through gritted teeth, behind a tightish smile, I simply answer, "Well-ll yes, actually."

The result of the missing flour was a deliriously delicious something - more pudding-like than the planned cake. My red face of embarrassment smartly changed to the sweet flush of success, as the men heartily applauded my effort with lip-smacking appreciation (dare I mention the cream that made ALL the difference?). Thankfully, the day was well and truly saved. Due to my floury omission, I claim I made the original Chocolate Mud Cake or Chocolate Lava Cake. I'm not fussed by its name—or whether anyone else agrees with me—'the proof of the pudding is in the eating' and as a pudding was how we ate it, with lavish dollops of cream on top.

"Luckily, no-one was counting cholesterol levels in those days."

"If we knew those words back then, we never used them. Maybe doctors did?"

I think about today's cholesterol problems and alerts.

Could it be we were healthier in our ignorance?

Now there's food for thought.

-o0O0o-

Author's note: Can't seem to stop chuckling at the thought of what yesterday's 'melt-down' described and entailed. Wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy... or would you??