Oregon (not Southern) Fried Chicken

Today as I sat in my car at the gas station and waited for my gas tank to fill, I noticed a sign across the street, "Mother's Day Car Wash Special 5 washes for $20."  I wondered if my Mom would've liked that kind of gift for Mother's Day.  I don't think she would've.  I think she would've thought that a car wash coupon was a silly Mother's Day gift.  Of course, if someone would've given her a car wash coupon for Mother's Day she would have acted like it was a really cool, useful gift but my sense is that she would have had different thoughts about it.  Like, "Geez, what a stupid gift. I don't need car washes...I want a new Nordstrom blouse.  I thought I raised these kids to have better taste.  Oh well, I guess they just take after their Dad."  She was a person of practicality but not to that extent! 

Done at the gas station, I went on through the rest of my day but still thinking about Mom.  She died June 7, 2005, a dark day for our family.  Since that dark day, I continue to relive memories of her last good days, one of which was Mother's Day, May 8, 2005.  It was a sunny Oregon morning as we gathered around her hospital bed for one last picture.  It was a good day.  As the days between May 8th and June 7th progressed, we continued to gather together as a family in search of hope and another treatment for her cancer, all the while questioning how and why life can be so mysterious and cruel at times.  I think our Mom would've wanted us to remember the good times and the good things about her life rather than the injustice of cancer and all such gloomy things. 

So I topped my day off by making fried chicken and potato salad.  Mom made the tastiest fried chicken and potato salad and they bring back great memories of back yard picnics and warm Oregon summer afternoons.  Betty Crocker and I tried to mimmick Mom's recipes as best we could, but Mom was the master of both juicy, tender fried chicken and smooth, creamy potato salad.  I plan to share my chicken and salad with friends tomorrow but deep inside my heart they will really be a little secret tribute to Mother's Day and my Mother's life :)