Grandma's Cookies

My mother makes amazing chocolate chip cookies. I'm probably biased having spent 48 years eating them; however, my college buddies also can attest to their quality. In fact, for years, my mom has baked chocolate chip cookies for them as well.

Ethan has inherited an affinity for "Grandma's Cookies." She bakes them for him, and we put them in the freezer. Ethan and I dole them out sparingly. When he is sick, he sometimes whines, rubs his belly, and says "I think one of Grandma's cookies may make me feel a little better."

Every once in a while, Heather decides to make chocolate chip cookies. Don't get me wrong, Heather's are great, but...well, they are just not my mom's. I know I run the risk of engaging in the old "Well, my mom's are better than my wife's." I don't want to do that, so I refrain from saying anything. But, the old adage "out of the mouths of babes" means Ethan isn't quite so restrained.

The other night, I was in Ethan's room when he said, "Daddy, do you think we should have one of Grandma's cookies?" I said, "Sure! That sounds great. I'll go get us one."

I went downstairs, poured him a glass of milk, and retrieved two cookies from the freezer. Heather asked what I was going, and I told her I was taking Ethan a cookie. She said, "I'll take it to him."

About 10 minutes later, she returned and said, "Ethan said the cookie tasted funny."

Surprised, I responded, "Really? I think they're OK. Mine tasted fine."

She grimaced, and said, "OK. I substituted one of MY cookies for your mom's. So MY cookie tastes funny."

I had to smile. Grandma's cookies are tough to beat.

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