Around the Table
I don't often have the chance to serve dinner to my parents. Or my brothers, or their children. Living out of town, we are the ones who travel home for holidays, we meet on vacations, we spend summer days at Indian Lake. Since we gave up a traditional kitchen table (replaced by an island and a comfy armchair) my own family uses the dining room on a fairly regular basis. But you know those movies where generations of families are eating and laughing every Sunday around someone's big table? That doesn't typically happen here.
This year, around my own table, we had six friends for dinner one night. On Christmas Day, we had seven. For New Year's dinner, we were expecting my parents, and then I received a text from my youngest brother:
"Can you fit 3 more around your table?"
Can I fit three more?
I answered his text with 10 smileys and 17 exclamation points.
This was an irregular holiday. We were unable to travel, but I quickly found that if I served it, they would come.
Our friends were here for an informal Christmas dinner before the holidays. We ate, we drank wine, we laughed and talked and my husband toasted our guests, saying there was no where else he would rather be. It's good to have those kinds of nights to start the season, I think. My table seats eight people comfortably, and the room was warm and accommodating. I like the color, there are things in the room that make me happy, not the least of which were the people.
When we first moved into the house in 1996, we had the table, which has been passed down to me from my parents, but we had no chairs. The table lived in the dining room for three years, next to the china cabinet, which was the first piece of furniture that Adam and I had ever purchased together (I still adore the cabinet's unique drawers and narrow shelves.) The room was undecorated. Then we found (ahem. . . could afford) chairs. We chose a deep green paint called Leap Frog, a striped rug, a big clock, black wood letters that spell, "ENJOY."
On Christmas Day, Adam's parents arrived in the afternoon bearing gifts and pots and baskets. The table was set for seven, but six of us were eating. Roasted pork, but turkey, too, for those of us not allergic! My in-laws brought the entire meal, prepared, and served it at our table. My son was just home from the hospital, so he slept on the couch while we ate. My husband and I were tired. We were so grateful for this meal, for this day, for the chance to sit and eat with family, in our home, on Christmas. Sam said grace. It was a good meal around that table, that day.
I asked Adam recently if we should refinish the table.
"It's looking a little worn," I said. It never looked that way in my parents' house. It wasn't their main table, but even though it is ours, I try to be careful
His reaction to my family heirloom surprised me.
"Don't touch the table. It's beautiful. You would hate to change the color or the finish. There is nothing wrong with a little imperfection."
When I clean it, I oil it lightly, and the imperfections glisten. (Note to self: let your imperfections shine.)
A few days after Christmas, we met my middle brother, my sister-in-law, and my nieces and nephews at a nearby Bob Evans off of 1-71. They were traveling south to Cincinnati, and since we couldn't make the whole trip, we decided to meet for a brunch and Christmas gift exchange on the road. We took up no less than 5 booths, including coats, gifts, booster seats, kids, and adults. We were happy to see each other, but sad when we had to say our good-byes in the parking lot. (And again, I thank them for somehow stuffing my box of gifts into their Trailblazer to deliver on my behalf!) Was it the perfect Christmas gathering? Maybe not. But for an hour, we were gathered around a few tables in the restaurant. There was joyous gift giving and receiving. We shared pancakes and eggs, coffee and diet Coke. It was a memory made, that's for sure.
On New Year's Day, my parents arrived, overflowing with bright Christmas bags and boxes . There were piles of Christmas cookies made by my aunt, gifts from family, and my mom's homemade fudge. Soon after, I heard the jingle of the sleigh bells that hang on the door and my brother and sister-in-law had arrived with my new nephew, just 3 weeks old. To meet and hold my newest nephew, when I thought I would have to wait a few more weeks, was such a blessing on this crazy holiday. The table was set for nine. My husband at one end, my dad at the other. My children, my mom, my brother, his beautiful wife. I was so grateful that they had come to us, so happy to have them around our table. When the baby cried, I held him through the meal
, so all ten of us were at the table. I offered the toast that evening. To new babies, to my healthy oldest baby, to family, to the new year, and to having everyone I loved around a table this season.
This year, around my own table, we had six friends for dinner one night. On Christmas Day, we had seven. For New Year's dinner, we were expecting my parents, and then I received a text from my youngest brother:
"Can you fit 3 more around your table?"
Can I fit three more?
I answered his text with 10 smileys and 17 exclamation points.
This was an irregular holiday. We were unable to travel, but I quickly found that if I served it, they would come.
Our friends were here for an informal Christmas dinner before the holidays. We ate, we drank wine, we laughed and talked and my husband toasted our guests, saying there was no where else he would rather be. It's good to have those kinds of nights to start the season, I think. My table seats eight people comfortably, and the room was warm and accommodating. I like the color, there are things in the room that make me happy, not the least of which were the people.
When we first moved into the house in 1996, we had the table, which has been passed down to me from my parents, but we had no chairs. The table lived in the dining room for three years, next to the china cabinet, which was the first piece of furniture that Adam and I had ever purchased together (I still adore the cabinet's unique drawers and narrow shelves.) The room was undecorated. Then we found (ahem. . . could afford) chairs. We chose a deep green paint called Leap Frog, a striped rug, a big clock, black wood letters that spell, "ENJOY."
On Christmas Day, Adam's parents arrived in the afternoon bearing gifts and pots and baskets. The table was set for seven, but six of us were eating. Roasted pork, but turkey, too, for those of us not allergic! My in-laws brought the entire meal, prepared, and served it at our table. My son was just home from the hospital, so he slept on the couch while we ate. My husband and I were tired. We were so grateful for this meal, for this day, for the chance to sit and eat with family, in our home, on Christmas. Sam said grace. It was a good meal around that table, that day.
I asked Adam recently if we should refinish the table.
"It's looking a little worn," I said. It never looked that way in my parents' house. It wasn't their main table, but even though it is ours, I try to be careful
His reaction to my family heirloom surprised me.
"Don't touch the table. It's beautiful. You would hate to change the color or the finish. There is nothing wrong with a little imperfection."
When I clean it, I oil it lightly, and the imperfections glisten. (Note to self: let your imperfections shine.)
A few days after Christmas, we met my middle brother, my sister-in-law, and my nieces and nephews at a nearby Bob Evans off of 1-71. They were traveling south to Cincinnati, and since we couldn't make the whole trip, we decided to meet for a brunch and Christmas gift exchange on the road. We took up no less than 5 booths, including coats, gifts, booster seats, kids, and adults. We were happy to see each other, but sad when we had to say our good-byes in the parking lot. (And again, I thank them for somehow stuffing my box of gifts into their Trailblazer to deliver on my behalf!) Was it the perfect Christmas gathering? Maybe not. But for an hour, we were gathered around a few tables in the restaurant. There was joyous gift giving and receiving. We shared pancakes and eggs, coffee and diet Coke. It was a memory made, that's for sure.
On New Year's Day, my parents arrived, overflowing with bright Christmas bags and boxes . There were piles of Christmas cookies made by my aunt, gifts from family, and my mom's homemade fudge. Soon after, I heard the jingle of the sleigh bells that hang on the door and my brother and sister-in-law had arrived with my new nephew, just 3 weeks old. To meet and hold my newest nephew, when I thought I would have to wait a few more weeks, was such a blessing on this crazy holiday. The table was set for nine. My husband at one end, my dad at the other. My children, my mom, my brother, his beautiful wife. I was so grateful that they had come to us, so happy to have them around our table. When the baby cried, I held him through the meal
, so all ten of us were at the table. I offered the toast that evening. To new babies, to my healthy oldest baby, to family, to the new year, and to having everyone I loved around a table this season.
Dinner was wonderful, and we're looking forward to our next trip to Hudson. Hopefully we'll get to stay in town for more than 20 hours!
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Christy,
As you know, Christmas is the big holiday up here, (vs. Thanksgiving), and they say it is the highest stress time of the year. We complain about travel, especially given our uncertain weather, moan about "who's turn it is", juggle in/out-law commitments, and generally talk about getting through it. Until you are together, as you write, and it's all worthwhile...still nuts, but worthwhile.
This year it was our "off year" so the Matthews clan gathered on Christmas Eve. As this is our last year being the central location, we offered to host one more time, with a wrinkle, no one will cook.
So off to Mandarin Chinese Buffet we go, 15 of us, 1 Grand-Nana,(96), 1 Nana, 6 parents, 7 kids,(the dogs, including two puppies were unfortunately not welcome), for a combination birthday party for my kid brother and Christmas wrapped into one. (Going chinese for his Dec 24 b-day became a family tradition prior to our weddings, so as not to lose it amongst the rest of the season. Somehow his birthday is always celebrated now, while none of ours are - I digress.)
So anyway, after doing gifts, nibblees and cocktails at my place, tromping off to the restaurant, Sue falling on the steps, avoiding landing on her broken thumb from her prior stumble and breaking her fall with her nose, Sue spending 15 minutes in the restroom to clean up and stop the bleeding, we ended up having a grand time doing the big buffet among the hundreds of others who apprently though the place would be empty as well, and another unique "memory made" as you point out.
Thanks for making me re-appreciate the crazy things we go through for the not-so-crazy reasons.
Missing you guys.
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