Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Just a month before Brittany passed away, my parents were in town for the State Wild Bunch Shoot. One evening they wanted to take us out to eat, but Jenelle and I would be down in St. George for the night for a half-marathon I had the following morning. So, they just took the kids.

When my dad asked where they wanted to eat, Jordan responded sarcastically with “Golden Corral,” because he knew it was down in St. George and there was no way Grandpa would drive all the way down to St. George (an hour away) just to take them out to eat. To their surprise, he said “yes.” It proved to be a decision my parents would never regret.

All the kids, a year and a half before the adventure at Golden Corral. 

They all loaded up in my parents' truck for the drive down, which proved to be an adventure in itself. Four kids sat in back, probably not all in seat belts. Savanah, only six years old at the time, sat on Grandma's lap in the front. They were packed in like sardines, but that was half the fun!

(Coincidentally, and unbeknownst to us, while they ate at Golden Corral, we sat across the street at the Brick Oven eating pasta.)

Brittany half-filled her first plate with green beans and one or two other vegetables. Then, she went full-throttle for the desserts. She filled a plate with cotton candy, ice cream, jello that melted on the hot plate, and other sweets. Another plate was full of strawberries pierced with a stick and smothered with chocolate from the fondue fountain . . . and a little bit of broccoli. She also experimented with cotton candy and marshmallows covered in chocolate.

When she was done with that serving and lifted her plate from the table, there was a chocolate ring left beneath. Brittany was also very helpful with Jenna and Savanah, helping them to fill their plates. 

In the end, Grandpa was aghast at how much junk they had eaten. When they were done, Brittany and Kaitlyn had to go into the bathroom to wash all the cotton candy and ice cream from their faces.

My dad (Grandpa) loves telling this story, and especially how Brittany had a plate full of chocolate-covered strawberries and how when she lifted her plate there was a ring of chocolate on the table. For my parents this was a very special evening because it was the last time they were able to spend good personal time with Brittany before she passed away.

Even though I wasn't there, I still laugh and get choked up every time I think of that memorable evening.

Brittany a few months before her passing. 

Last year on the anniversary of her passing, we drove to St. George as a family to attend an angel ceremony that happens to be on her anniversary (December 6) every year. Afterward we decided to eat dinner at Golden Corral.

I enjoyed hearing the stories from the kids, recalling their memories of that eventful evening twelve years earlier. I was touched as I reminisced about Brittany, the sound of her voice and how she may of looked on that infamous evening.⸻And just so I could taste the memories also, I made sure I got a plate of strawberries covered in chocolate. ♥

Remembering Brittany at Golden Corral.