Looking out my Backdoor: Goldilocks and the Three Pies

Consider this to be as though you accidentally tuned into the cooking channel. The difference is that I’ll tell you about the mistakes I made along the way.

When Uncle Lee retired from being a fireman in Indianapolis, he and Aunt Joanne bought an Airstream trailer in which they spent every winter, lolling in the Florida Keys.

This was back when cars were built as sturdily as ocean liners and were almost as big. I picture my aunt and uncle rolling down the highway, in the two-toned barge, sporty with tail fins and lots of chrome, pulling the silver Airstream through the states until they reache...