…with Gary Moss

My great-grandmother made the most delicious brisket that you can ever imagine tasting. She was famous throughout the family, around the block, and way over into the next county. If you ever were invited to Sunday evening dinner at great-grandma’s house, you’d be sure to cancel any other activity in order to be there. Some family members recall one time when grandpa’s friend, Harry Houdini (Ehrich Weiss), was invited to dinner before one of his local performances. He made two full servings of great-grandma’s brisket disappear.

Last year, at a family reunion, we had been served brisket by the caterer. It was a far cry from being as good as I remembered great-grandma’s brisket. I shared my thoughts with my daughter and then she asked if anyone still has the recipe. I suggested that she ask her mother. She immediately pulled out her cell phone and fast-dialed my ex. Shelly thought a minute and then began with the recipe: 1) purchase a 3 pound brisket about 8 – 10 inches long. 2) Trim the thin end of the brisket back to 7 inches. (Give the trimmings to the dog.) 3) Place the brisket into the cast iron pan. 4) Season with salt, pepper, celery salt, a splash of anise and paprika. 5) Surround the brisket with carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes. 6) Add a cup and a half of water. 7) Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.

“Why did great-grandma buy a large brisket and then cut some off and throw it away?” asked my daughter. ” I’m not sure”, answered my ex. “Ask grandma.”

Out came her Palm Pilot with all of her phone numbers. After locating grandma’s number, it was only a second until the number was punched. Grandma sounded out of breath when she answered the phone. She had just walked in from her daily 3 mile run. “Grandma, do you remember great-grandma’s brisket recipe?” “Sure, Honey. Do you have a pencil? Here goes: 1) purchase a 3 pound brisket about 8 – 10 inches long. 2) Trim the thin end of the brisket back to 7 inches. (Give the trimmings to the dog.) 3) Place the brisket into the cast iron pan. 4) Season with salt, pepper, celery salt, a splash of anise and paprika. 5) Surround the brisket with carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes. 6) Add a cup and a half of water. 7) Bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes.”

“But grandma, why did great-grandma buy a large brisket and then cut some off and throw it away?”

There was laughter on the other end of the phone. “What are you laughing about? What’s so funny?” “Nothing, dear. It’s just that great-grandma’s cast iron pan was only 8 inches long.

Following some player’s blind advice about playing scrabble can be as silly as asking someone for a recipe. Always begin by asking the correct source for the information. It really irks me when a newbie walks into the club and asks questions about matters of substance to other newbies and novices. Even many of the experts who may know the correct answers may not be able to give an explanation in an understandable, sensitive manner.

I consider myself to be the ‘scrabble-answer-man’ at CLUB #350 and for my many students around the country. As a teacher, by profession, I have worked hard learning how to communicate with people of all ages and all natures.

Just ASK ME! I’ll either tell you -or- I’ll tell you where you can go.