One Word Can Make a Difference!

I never thought that one tiny little word could make such a difference.  This is one time it did.

This story takes place in Middletown, Pennsylvania in the early 1970’s.  I was only married a short time and was still trying hard to show my husband’s parents that I was a good wife and taking excellent care of their son. 

One Sunday, I decided to invite them for dinner and make all their favorite things to eat.  It was so much fun shopping and planning the family dinner.

My husband went with me, so I would ask many times, “do they like this, do they like that?”  He helped me so much in picking the main course and side dishes so I asked him what his dad’s favorite dessert was since I knew his dad had an insatiable sweet tooth. 

He quickly answered, “My dad loves coconut cream pie.” 

Oh my, I was so hoping it would be my specialty, any kind of custard pie, blueberry, coconut or pumpkin, but it wasn’t. 

Okay then, I will make him the best coconut cream pie he ever ate.  Since this was the first coconut cream pie I ever made, I practiced for two days and combined many recipes until I finally came out with a winner.

I had 13 practice pies in front of me and decided to give everyone in the neighborhood a pie.  I only kept the winner pies for the dinner.

Sunday finally came and I was so excited.  There was a baked ham in the oven along with homemade mac and cheese, parsley potatoes on the stove as well as creamed cauliflower and homemade biscuits ready to pop in the oven.  Of course, I had my surprise dessert in the fridge waiting for my father-in-law to take a big bite. 

They absolutely loved the dinner and gave me many compliments but they haven't seen anything yet.

So I headed to the kitchen to retrieve the coffee and my masterpiece pie and proceeded back into the dining room with everything in toe.  I sat the gorgeous pie right in front of my father-in-law and sat down.  “Will you cut it please,” I asked?

“This looks wonderful,” he said, “What kind is it?”

“Your favorite,” I proudly stated, “It’s Coconut Cream Pie”,
I answered proudly.

“Oh, Bonnie” I’m so sorry but that’s not my favorite, coconut custard is.”  I actually don’t like any kind of creamed pies,” he said, as my heart dropped to my knees.

Coconut cream and coconut custard, they sounded so close but so different.   One I knew how to make and one I didn’t.

Just one little word difference and it ruined my whole day!