Not long after we made that video, my dad passed away suddenly. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003, and his health had had many ups and downs since then. We were lucky to have those fifteen years with him. Those years were a gift and a blessing.
For the last seven years, my dad’s pride and joy were his grandkids. He would drop whatever he was doing to see or spend time with them. He told me on several occasions that his connection with his grandchildren was what helped him push through the times when he was sick and doubting his will to go on.

Videoing our cooking adventures is now something Jack and I do regularly. We’ve filmed him making crawfish frittata, chili, and ground turkey tacos. He loves being in the kitchen. Yesterday he told his mom that he wants to be a chef.
Making that video is one of those stories I know my family will tell and retell for years: how Jack decided to teach his grandfather and grandmother a wholesome recipe. It’s definitely something special. We’ll have the videos to share with Jack and the kids as they get older. Those meatballs will indeed be famous, at least within our family.