You can do that???

Our microwave (yes the new one) stopped working today. So I pulled out a pan, and started cooking the oatmeal.

The children's jaws dropped in shock.

"What are you doing?"

"Cooking the oatmeal."

"You can do that????"

"Yes, this is how we did it when I was a kid." (Note the immediate feeling of being old descending lightly like a grand piano out of a penthouse.)

The silly giggles began, along with the mimickery, - 'look at me, I am cooking on a stove' 'me too'.

When it finished cooking, Maggie anticipated, "I hope this worked!"

It's magic! Fortunately the microwave will be back soon, so we can cook our food right using quality, tested, scientific principles.