"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast" (--John Gunther)

Some years ago, when my son Eric was a teenager, we visited Bermuda for a short vacation. Each morning while we were there, I instructed him to make sure he filled up on breakfast food. I told him to go back and have seconds, and eat as many eggs and bacon and hash browns as his little heart desired, so that he'd last until later in the day. (I had figured we could sort of wind up combining lunch and dinner as one meal in the late afternoon if he ate enough at breakfast.)

The place where we were staying served a nice buffet brunch that was a pretty decent meal, and they also served lots of muffins, pastries, fruit and juices. I encouraged him to take some of the fruit and a croissant or muffin along with him when we left, so he'd have it for a snack later on.

I thought I was very smart and that we'd last until late afternoon, when we could wind up sitting out at some lovely place on the water, enjoying the beautiful scenery before it turned dark.

I forgot one tiny detail, though...

This was back in the day when I would make meals for the two of us from recipes that said things like "Serves eight generously," but the two of us would polish that baby off in 20 minutes. He was a growing boy and he ate like there was no tomorrow.

We did wind up eating some great meals while we were there, and I have very fond memories of that trip.

I remember being quite amused that when we arrived at our hotel on that trip, Eric and I kind of looked at each other and laughed, because we both immediately realized we were being given the Honeymoon Suite at this place! We had a great view out on the water, and there was one king-sized bed. There were flowers, a basket of fruit, chocolates...the whole nine yards. We wound up requesting two beds, and they happily complied, but when we left and I received the bill, sure enough, the receipt was for "Mr and Mrs E. Smith."

To this day, I smile, realizing that they surely must've thought I was robbing the cradle...

"Oh breakfast, lovely breakfast,
You're the meal I savor most.
I sip a bit of gargoyle bile,
And chew some ghoul on toast.

I linger over scrambled legs,
Complete with pickled feet,
Then finish with a piping bowl
Of steamy SCREAM OF WHEAT."

(--Jack Prelutsky)