last suppers

Brian Price writes on the experience of preparing inmates' last meals for Legal Affairs:

Buxton, the 38th prisoner executed in Texas since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1982, had been sentenced to death for killing a supermarket customer in the course of a robbery. For his last meal, he requested filet mignon, pineapple upside-down cake, fruit punch, tea, and coffee. I hadn't had much experience cooking steaks but it was important to me to give Buxton the last meal he wanted. To my surprise, the kitchen provided me with a T-bone steak in place of Buxton's preferred filet mignon. I had always thought that condemned inmates received exactly what they requested for their very last meal on earth. But I did the best I could, grilling the steak to well done and arranging the items on Buxton's dinner tray, which I wrapped in plastic and covered with butcher paper to keep warm. When my task was completed, I prayed over the meal.

Later, as the hour for Buxton's execution approached, I found myself wondering whether or not he liked his meal. Though I'd never met Buxton and knew little about him, I felt a sympathetic bond to this man as his life drew to a close. The next day, my emotions were compounded when I was told by my supervisor that Buxton had sent a message of thanks to me through the prison chaplain. Buxton had said that he enjoyed his meal and appreciated the care that went into its preparation. After that cold February day, I volunteered to cook all of death row's last meals.

I found the essay moving, but less so when I learned it's an excerpt from Price's forthcoming book, called Meals to Die For. Just because irony is possible, doesn't mean it's advisible.

Posted by nchicha at March 25, 2004 02:32 AM