I’m participating in a Boomer Blogging Extravaganza which will take place every Friday. It’s a way to bring attention to the new genre of books called Boomer Lit. Click here, Boomer Lit Friday to go to your one-stop shopping boomer lit blog which will feature snippets from a variety of “baby boomer” novels. It’a a good place to get a taste of what boomer authors are writing about.
This excerpt takes place a few weeks after Luke’s divorce from Kate has been finalized. He has returned home to celebrate this first lonely holiday with his parents, and his sister, Barbara who is also divorced. Apparently Luke’s mother, Muriel, has opted to choose ease of meal preparation over proper nutrition. Both Luke and Barbara are shocked by what they find in her kitchen pantry.
On Christmas Eve, Luke and Barbara helped Muriel in the kitchen preparing the turkey, stuffing it with Barbara’s homemade dressing lest they be subjected to Stove Top. Luke peeled potatoes. Barbara and Luke had exchanged a look when Muriel had insisted that instant mashed tasted just as good. Apparently Muriel had succumbed to convenience in the kitchen and now used products which, if the labels were examined closely, would strike terror in the heart of anyone with even a stray thought of proper nutrition.
“Mom, really, these things in your pantry. Some of them are quite gross.” Barbara had a container of a microwavable concoction (no refrigeration needed!) in each hand. “This is on a par with say, spam.”
“There’s nothing wrong with spam,” Muriel said. “I’ve eaten it lots of times, and fried up it tastes like a hotdog.”
“My point exactly. Ever wondered what’s in a hot dog?”
“No, I haven’t. I buy all-beef franks and there’s not a thing wrong with them.” Muriel sniffed at being criticized for her non-label-watching behavior.
“All-beef lips, and eyelids, and assholes.” .
“Don’t buy anything with a label,” Luke said.
“That’s not possible. Especially not today,” Muriel said.
Lynn Schneider Books 
Too funny. Great scene. Can’t wait to read this book.
Thanks, Michael. I hope you do read it, would like your input.
Poor Muriel. I know just how she feels!
Yes, Muriel never had the conveniences of prepared foods and now that she does have them, her kids don’t appreciate it.
I remember that passage. I loved it! But I don’t love Spam, either the edible or electronic kind…
I don’t love Spam either (either kind) but I have eaten it before, many years ago. I think the nutrition habits of most of us have improved a lot.
I feel for Muriel. At some point kids suddenly decide they have free rein to critique all thier parents’ choices, and it must be maddening.
So true. I know it has happened to me, which is one of the reasons I wrote this passage.
I remember this scene. Poor Muriel. She has lived all these years without advice from her kids, but now they feel the need to educate her. I like the way she speaks up for herself.
Muriel is no wimp. She was a romance writer and that was what she cared about. Cooking, not so much.
As always, your dialogue is spot on, Lynn! I’m so looking forward to reading your book!
Thanks, Marsha. I hope you will read it some day, I will look forward to your input.
I like the writing but think you should do a sell or brief synop about the book up front before the snippet. I don’t have a clear idea what genre,this is.
Thanks, Klaw. It is a good idea, I will do that for next BLF. Thanks for the suggestion.
I can see this scene unfolding. I immediately related to the situation. Dialogue is well done. I agree with Klaw. You set the scene up well, but it would be good to put it in context of your novel.
Thanks, Donn! I appreciate your comment. Next BLF I am going to add more information to the snippet. It is a good suggestion.
Lynn,
I can relate. My daughter thinks I’m “out of touch” when I go against the norm, or what passes for the norm today.
Right. I know the feeling. Every generation thinks they know better than the one before! But in this case, they are probably right.
Great job setting the scene and the tone. A very believable scene. Setting aside my personal preference for fresh, local, vegan food, I do feel for Muriel being double-teamed by her children 😉 Will it turn out to be one of those painful family dinners? I know…tune in next week.
Thanks, Shelley/ I just had to get my personal digs in there, for processed foods. Some of it has little to no resemblance to real food. Some of the stuff that is sold in the name of “convenience” is enough to kill you.
Love it, can’t wait to read this book too! Yes, we do eat rotten things nowadays, don’t we?
I try not to eat rotten things like Muriel has in her pantry, but you can drive yourself nuts with it. It’s everywhere!
Poor Mom, and poor sandwich generation kids. I hope Mom doesn’t wind up in a nursing home.
I rather like Stove Top myself, although I add fresh mushrooms and onions. Aside from that, this excerpt is true-to-life. Working in an animal shelter, I encounter many vegetarians, and we also have to figure out what diets are best for the cats and dogs. So we have many conversations that are similar to this one.