Dear Chef and Fellow Potato Peeler;
This week end will be the tenth family supper I have made with out you. You and I first decided to do this because we felt family is important and should connect more often but it turned out to be a special way you and I could spend time also, talking and doing something we loved.(cooking) We have made meals together for years (we used to do it for poor and homeless people) and I remember every one! We would spend a day deciding what we wanted to make, right down to the smallest detail and the next two days preparing. I remember all the conversations about life, friends, the kids, our childhoods and what we thought about every and anything in life all while peeling potatoes and carrots. When It was cooking day we would argue about if things should be cut larger or smaller and what spices or flavors to use We put such love into every meal and took such pleasure watching everyone enjoy it. (That was our favorite part.. Even if we were going camping we never missed a family supper, we just made it to go and brought it with us.) We would joke with the kids and find out what they had been up to all week and what their plans for the next week were. Usually you would have to help one of them with an oil change or check for some mysterious noise their car was making or help Henry in the garage with something. After dinner we would pull out a board game and play and everyone would tease and laugh. After everyone was fed and they all packed left overs for the work week ahead you and I would clean up and share our thoughts and just talk (I really miss our talks) and start planning the next weeks family supper. You helped all of us with whatever we needed and you always did it with love and in a way where you would have them open up to you ( often you knew more what everyone was up to than I did) Well, I still make family supper. It still takes me two or three days to make one supper, still with love each time but now there are tears in each one as I cut the potatoes and peel the carrots and remember the talks we had. No one argues with me about how we should do or what should we use, i just pick. They all still need help with cars or in the garage or with whatever. They help each other but its not the same. We still play games after supper and talk about the week past and the one ahead but something is missing its not the same anymore. There is a little less laughter. a little less joy and a few more tears. You were ARE still my best friend, my forever soul mate and a huge part of my family and we miss you so very very much. 
love always, your sieux chef and other potato peeler