Looking-out-a-broken- window-thinking-about- that-time-i-got-locked-in- an-outhouse-lasagna
There are certain moments from childhood that stick with you, and not always the picture-perfect ones. Sometimes, it’s the misadventures—the moments of panic and problem-solving—that leave the biggest impression. For me, it’s the time I got stuck in the outhouse at my grandparents’ lake cabin.
It was supposed to be a peaceful summer day by the lake. The sun was shining, the water was sparkling, and everything was perfect… until the latch on the outhouse door refused to budge. I jiggled it. I tried to nudge it open with my shoulder. Nothing. Then, panic set in. I yelled for help, my voice echoing in the tiny wooden structure. No one heard me—or if they did, they assumed it was one of my cousins goofing off.
That’s when I noticed the hammer sitting on a shelf. In a moment of desperation, I grabbed it and smashed the small window on the door. My plan was to stick my head out and shout for help, but as I held the hammer, I realized something: maybe I could use it to pry the latch up. A few careful attempts later, I was free. The relief was instant, but so was the guilt. The broken glass glinted in the sunlight as I sheepishly carried the hammer back inside.
When I confessed to my grandfather, I expected a lecture. Instead, he laughed, patted me on the shoulder, and said, “Well, you got yourself out. That’s what matters.” That evening, we had lasagna for dinner, and the broken window was barely mentioned again. But to this day, every time I eat lasagna, I’m reminded of that summer—and how sometimes the best solutions come after a little chaos.
Recipe:
Procure a frozen lasagna, preferably Stouffers.
Prepare according to directions, this ensures there are no frozen chunks in the middle.
If possible, prepare in the kitchen of a tiny cabin in the summer time, so it’s nice and toasty in there.
If you have a daughter, granddaughter, or daughter in law, have them help you while the guys go out and have fun on the lake.
Use real dishes so it takes a long time to clean up (try not to have a dishwasher).
