I've worked with a number of a great
people over the years. Thanks to the internet and social media, I'm
still in touch with a great many of them. One of the best was Bill.
He owns a small company where I worked twice; once in the mid-90's,
and then again in the early 2000's.
Bill is a guy with a great sense of
humor. I recall on the day he hired me – he started out with a
pretty straight forward interview...asking a few questions about my
skills and experience. After a time, he paused looking out the
window, and then turned to me and asked, “Can you cuss and drink
coffee?” I responded affirmatively and was hired on the spot.
Although Bill is extremely
knowledgeable in his field and possesses determination and a work
ethic like few I have ever known, it was often difficult to get a
straight answer from him...due to the fact that he seems to get great
pleasure from messing with people. Case in point: the Brunswick stew
recipe.
The first summer I worked for Bill, he
made an enormous pot of Brunswick stew at the company picnic. It was
amazing, and I immediately asked if he would share the recipe...but
he declined. During my second tenure of employment with him, I tried
again to get the recipe – but was turned down again. Over the next
ten or so years, I would periodically touch base with Bill via email
and ask for the recipe...always being turned away, but figuring maybe
one day persistence could pay off. In February of 2011, I asked once
again for the recipe, and received the following response....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An Indian and his son are sitting by
their campfire.
The son asked, "Father, how do
Indians get their names?"
The father says, "When the mother
is in the teepee giving birth, and the father hears the baby's cry,
the first thing he sees will be the name of the child. Our tribe has
Running Brook, Soaring Eagle, Fallen Leaf, Prancing Fawn, and Black
Crow."
The son thinks a minute and says
quietly, "Oh, I see."
The father says, "Why do you ask
this, Two-Dogs-Fucking?"
So, my question to you is, why do you
ask this, Two-Dogs-Fucking?
Are you doing something personal or
public? Private or passed to someone else? Commercial or in the
secrecy of your own kitchen?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After I assured him it was for personal
use only – he finally shared the recipe. I still haven't made it
yet...as it calls for 23 lbs of chicken and a 12 gallon stock
pot...but having it feels like victory. I guess persistence does pay
off.
