I was about nine years old the first time I ever made Jello. I boiled the water, added it to the green gelatin powder, stirred, added the cold water and refrigerated it. It didn't look quite right--the top was a slightly thick liquid and the bottom was kind of rubbery and gritty. However, my family (five older brothers and two sisters--one older and one younger) very kindly ate at it and said nothing. Until my fourth brother, Mark, said, "Mmmmm. This is good!" My older sister, Melanie was just putting some of this delicious treat into her mouth, when his comment made her laugh and, unfortunately, inhale some of the Jello. As she sat there gasping for breath, my mother (who takes everything so calmly) was shouting out suggestions like, "She's choking!" and "Slap her on the back!", etc. which made Melanie laugh more. She had almost regained her composure when Mom came up with the best antidote of all--"Take her outside and squirt her with the hose!!", causing a little more excitement all around. Well, we all survived that incident, and now I am very careful to completely dissolve my gelatin before I chill it!
