“The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table”
Michael J. Fox once said: “The oldest form of theater is the dinner table. It’s got five or six people, a new show every night, same players. Good ensemble: the people have worked together a lot”.
As I reflect on the Michael J. Fox quote, I realize we have learned so much at the dinner table and shared everything from how our day went to how to pass the potatoes. We learned manners, how to hold a fork and at the beginning of the meal watching how much mom did to prepare the meals and us for dinner. Her words before every meal were to wash up before you sit at the table. Every meal was “don’t forget kids, hands, face, neck and ears”. Why all the extras? Well, this was necessary with three boys and two girls who all played in a wonderous place that doesn’t seem to exist anymore. It was called outside. Yes, even my little sister Patty had a layer of dirt on her that was unacceptable at the dinner table. We looked like we came out the mines coming in the door but at the table we were cleaned up nice or my mother sent us back for more washing. One such dinner time story was when my father, who was working two jobs at the time, asked for silence at the dinner table. This was very difficult for five kids. We were doing ok at the table until the whistle! My Dad was exhausted, and he had nasal congestion. So, his nose whistled as he ate. As the whistling continued my brothers, Patty, and I could not keep a straight face, and we snickered. My dad could hear the whistle, but he did not realize it was he who was whistling. Dad then ordered the whistler to stop or to bed they would go. The whistling continued and we tried to freeze our faces, but it would not work, and I burst into uncontrollable laughter. I proclaimed, “dad, it’s you!” He questioned my sanity, and I was off to bed for secret whistling. My brothers and sister did not come to my aid on the subject. I then laughed all the way to bed. Later, mom broke me out. I still smile to this day when I think of it or when I have dinner with my brothers and sisters and we bring up that time that dad whistled. This week, I did not talk about a specific gadget. Instead, talked about what kitchen cooking gadgets can help with; bringing a family together for at least an hour a day. Mealtime is family time. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.
Take Care,
John & Paula
