This happened many many moons ago. I had never prepared asparagus, but thought I would give it a try. I put the olive oil in the pan, prepared the asparagus, and started to cook it. I could not get it to soften up, no matter how much I tried. What I had done when preparing it, was cut off the eating part (looked like weeds and seeds to me), and threw it away. I was trying to cook the ends.
I can't believe I just told this story !!!!!