A Plate for Grandmother

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Some grandparents will not be part of the 2020 Canada Day and 4th of July family BBQ because of COVID-19. 

They are called high risk so they are quarantined in their rooms in old age homes to prevent them from spreading the virus or catching it. Most families will include them in the festivities by talking to them over Skype, if grandparents are tech savvy. Families will also send video clips of toddlers falling all over the place or using ice cream as facial foundation.

The electronic images will make them happy and sad. You can come up with creative ways of showing grandparents that they are not forgotten. It’s just the pandemic, that is making it difficult to follow family tradition and fetch them for the backyard BBQ.

FIX THEM PLATES

You already know what your family will eat Canada Day. Put some of that food on a plate, cover it with foil and drop it off at the old age home. Text your parents that you will leave something for them at the front desk. 

What is a plate? It’s food, especially for someone who was not at the 40th birthday party or BBQ. Boyz in the Hood, the classic film directed by the late John Singleton has a very good scene about ‘a plate.’ 

The next door neighbour, played by Laurence Fishburne did not attend the party thrown by his neighbour (Tyra Ferrell), who has a crush on him. She gives his son, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. a plate with the BBQ goodies.

WHAT IS ON THE PLATE?

Online pic: dim sum (Chinese dumplings)

Depends on family favourites: perogies, dim sum, quiche, fish cakes, hot dogs, Jollof rice, black eyed peas and rice, roast or fried chicken, baby corn, lamb curry, spring rolls, sweet potato pie, ribs etc.

Most people in Canada and the U.S. tend to associate the BBQ with hamburgers. This might not work if grandparents have teeth problems. That is why we included hot dogs. They are smaller and softer.

However, grandparents in old age homes will appreciate anything on that plate, because it is the thought that counts.

Important: Tell grandmother that you’ll leave something for her at the front desk at 11 a.m. or noon. Drop it off and ask her to fetch it immediately. Wish her a Happy Canada Day or 4th of July.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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