Memories of food

Joseph,
 
I just loved your story.  It reminded me of one I would like to
share.
 
I was raised by foster parents from Jalisco, my foster mother was from
LaBarca while my foster father was from Tepatitlan.
 
He worked for Santa Fe, the graveyard shift, she was a stay-at-home
mom.  Our eating routine usually started with "leche con pan dulce" for
breakfast.  We came home to a hot meal every day (she wasn't the best cook,
but it was always good and substantial).  When we got home from school, we
did chores, homework, etc.  Then she would serve her husband his own meal
(always different from what she served us or herself).  We would always
wonder why he got the "special" looking stuff, but dared not ask.  Later,
we would eat something light, like tostadas, and right before bed we would have
our pan dulce with our leche.
 
One night, when my foster father was working and my brothers were out
playing (I was never allowed to go out and play, as I had to be chaperoned at
all times), I saw her eating fish.  She was eating it with such delight,
and I asked to taste it.  She let me taste it, but I did not like it. 
This was one of the first times that I had ever seen her eat or
prepare fish - she said it reminded her of childhood, but did not
elaborate.
 
Now that left an impression upon me, because fish was expensive and not
necessarily readily available in Chicago (fresh) during those days, nor did we
ever get fish when we went to Jalisco visiting family.  Just recently, I
learned that her father was a fisherman - he used to fish at the Laguna de
Chapala.  It saddened me that she would prepare special meals for
her husband and separate meals for herself and us. 
 
I am wondering if anyone else had a similar ritual when they grew up? 
Can anyone tell me why pan dulce was served right before bedtime and a light
supper provided? 
 
Esperanza