Unplanned Time

We spend a lot of time on a schedule around my house.  This week just happened to have a couple of back-to-back activities planned which just upped the pace.  Today, as the drizzle turned into rain and the temperature hovered around 32 degrees, our plans for the night were unexpectedly changed.  We opted for a rare treat to the book store (yo-yo for him and coloring book for me) and a quick stop at Target.  While wandering around Target trying to decide what I would make for dinner or whether a quick stop at McDonald's or Chick-Fil-A was in order, I decided to make spaghetti.  As I discussed it with my son in Target his enthusiastic "Yes!" quickly morphed into "Can I help?"  And that is how my son and I made spaghetti together for the first time.  He told me it was perfect, ate three bowls, and then said it was better than my dad's.  I flashed back to my dad's living room and the hundreds (maybe thousands?) of times we ate spaghetti together and talked.  I can guarantee you tonight's spaghetti wasn't as good as my dad's but it was good and the night ranks right up there with those with my dad.  So with all the zen time I've had by scheduling this week and trying to get it right, it seems right that this unplanned night brought zen and joy to my life.

What meals take you back to the best times of your childhood?  Who do you share them with today?