“A mistake without a recovery plan is just a liability, but a mistake with a good laugh and a little bit of wisdom? That’s a treasure!” — Angeline Collins
It was the summer of 1982, and the heat in Heath Springs was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. The church picnic was just three days away, and I had volunteered to make the slow-cooked collard greens. You know the kind—smoky, tender, and seasoned with just the right amount of ham hock. I had been working on that recipe for twenty years, and I thought I had it down to a science.
But, bless your heart, I had a problem. The choir practice next door was in full swing. They were rehearsing “Amazing Grace” with such fervor that I could hear the trumpets through my kitchen window. I was so distracted by the rowdy rendition that I left the pot on the stove.
By the time I remembered, the collards had turned into a delicious, crispy, blackened symphony of regret! They weren’t just burnt; they were charred. The kind of char that makes your eyebrows fall off when you take a bite. I thought I had ruined the picnic. I thought I had ruined my reputation as the town’s favorite cook.
But then, the neighbors came over. They laughed until they cried. We ended up having the best potluck that ever happened. We ate the burnt greens with a side of sweet potato casserole (which, by the way, I accidentally put my reading glasses in the night before). It was a mess, but it was our mess.
That day taught me that life is like a slow-cooked pot of collard greens. Sometimes you get distracted by the choir, or you drop your glasses in the soup pot, or you accidentally seal a jar with the lid facing the wrong way. But you know what? Those mistakes? They’re the best part. They’re the stitches that hold the quilt together.
So, if you’re feeling down because you messed up your latest project, or you burned your dinner, or you forgot where you put your reading glasses—just remember: a mistake without a recovery plan is just a liability. But a mistake with a good laugh and a little bit of wisdom? That’s a treasure.
Warning: Do not try this at home unless you have a fire extinguisher handy.
Instructions: Cook low and slow, but don’t leave the pot unattended. And for the love of all that is holy, keep your reading glasses in your pocket.