While I was preparing supper and setting the table tonight, a thought popped into my head. Since I can remember, I have always eaten supper at the table, even when I was living by myself. Now, I'm not saying that I have never devoured a pizza or take out while watching a movie, I have. And I'm not saying there are nights where we still don't partake of supper in front of the boob tube, because we do. But for the most part, we eat at the table. I'll never forget when Adam and I first started living together. I spent the better part of the day cleaning the kitchen table so we could eat there that evening. (For those of you who don't know: Adam was a confirmed bachelor before he met me. So, imagine what the table looked like.) Any way, supper was almost done and the table was set. I put the meal on the table, called Adam down to the kitchen, and took my seat. You should have seen the look on his face when he came down the stairs. He pulled out his chair and sat down, as I began to serve him his supper. About half way through the meal he said " It's nice to eat at the table like this."To this I replied " Don't you eat at the table?". Of course we all know what the answer was. From that day on we have eaten at the table whenever we can: breakfast, dinner,supper or snack. Even though it is just the two of us, we enjoy the meal together and share the day. We talk about how work was, what we have planned for the week or weekend but mostly, we share the time together.
This got me thinking of some other tried and true traditions or lessons I have learned growing up that I still go by today. Here are just a few:
No phone calls or TV on during meals
How is your time together to be enjoyed if you can't get away from the phone or the TV. The time spent with your loved ones and family is so much more important then the phone call or TV show you just walked away from. I will admit, I do like to have the radio playing softly in the background some evenings, but it just enhances the mood. A lot of good things come out of an uninterrupted meal, most of all special time and a sense of family.
Hand-me- downs are "A OK"
I hated hand me downs when I was younger. Luckily, I was the oldest so my brother most of the gender neutral clothes that I had out grown. Mom would yard sale and Goodwill for us till she couldn't see straight. We would be made to wear the clothes,mostly for play, but still.. when your ten, being made to wear something you don't want to is murder. Now as I grow older and have become an adult, I love a good bargain on clothes, whether it be Goodwill or a yard sale. Some people are so funny about what they buy, always has to brand new. Don't get me wrong: I like something new just as much as the next guy. But lets get real folks, money doesn't grow on trees and everyone is trying to stretch George as far as possible these days.So, as far as I am concerned hand me downs are "a OK" and wearing them will not kill you.
You should wear black to funerals and dresses to weddings
In this day and age, any dark color is appropriate for a funeral, from brown to gray to blue. Be it the case, I don't wear anything but black to funerals. To me, black shows respect to the deceased and their family. Besides, black is classy and looks peaceful, all at the same time. On the other hand, women and girls should always wear dresses to weddings. I will admit, I have worn slacks and a nice top to a wedding and didn't burst into flames.No one chased me out or said I couldn't attend, but I felt weird. I felt out of place. In my mind I knew I should have worn a dress. As much as I hate pantie hose and high heeled shoes, I will always wear dresses to weddings. Call my old fashioned but old habits die hard.
I could go on and on throughout the night, but I can smell that my baked turkey pie is ready to be eaten. As fast as I can type, I will be finishing this blog and heading down two sets of stairs to the the kitchen.There waiting for me is a yummy baked turkey pie, a very handsome man, and one of my favorite times of the day. My mouth is watering just thinking about it, so with that said I am off, without the phone and the TV. Here I come supper, and here I come family value that is ingrained in me for the rest of my life.
