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Dinner 's Ready
"Dinner's ready!" "Come and get it!" This was the call from the kitchen heard the first time from my crib. Every holiday dinner growing up was almost exactly the same except for the protein; Christmas Eve we had fish, Christmas Day ham, New years day roast beef, Easter ham again and Thanksgiving it was turkey. The traditional accompaniments were mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, carrots or green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce and of course jello. The inclusion of lasagna or ravioli or manicotti, meatballs, sausage and garlic bread was the first course in our Italian family and decided upon by the host. My mother always made lasagna, my grandma made homemade ravioli and my Aunts made manicotti. Turns were taken rotating holidays. We always knew who was having which holiday and at whose house it would be. I would when I began hosting, make lasagna for my family holiday dinners first course.. Eventually that's all my brother's and cousin's families would make too.
When the announcement was made all the kids came running from basements, backyards and up or downstairs family rooms. My brothers, myself and my cousins always had our own table, the "kids" table, and when we got older still sat together away from the adults, usually because there wasn't enough room for everyone to sit together.
We would all take our place at the table and before we started eating the host would say Grace. Then we would begin the long and joyous occasion of filling ourselves til we felt we could burst.
Mom and my grandma never seemed to sit down. or for that matter eat. They were always up getting refills, drinks or even started washing some dishes and silverware for the next course and then again for dessert.
Years later I observed them eating in the kitchen before, during and after serving without sitting down. Although I didn't like that idea of not joining the family at the dinner table, I still grew up fighting off the habit. It was a well honed, handed-down- through- the- generations practice.
My gramma has been gone about 20 years now, my mom 3 years. It's taken a little longer for the next generation after me to take up the task of hosting the holidays. My 30 year old daughter had Easter this year for the first time. It was a small group of seven. My brothers and our cousins are all with their growing families and in-laws now. My son and daughter in law hosted Christmas Eve with her side of the family and included me and my daughter and son-in-law.
Both my daughter in law and my daughter sat and ate at the same time as the rest of us. Food was out buffet style and we could all help ourselves. Drinks were in coolers kept in the kitchen or living room. No pastas were served because it was"too much" and "unnecessary".
Wine flowed with the appetizers of sushi, cerviche and various cheese and cracker offerings, through the meal, and continued at coffee and dessert time.
Lobster rolls and baked pears accompanied the ham at Easter. There were no sweet potatoes. There was no family New Year's Day party this year or last. Guests will offer to say Grace although others have already started eating. Children may eat in the kitchen, basement or living room and are on their iPads or continue to play while adults start eating. "Food's ready!" is still announced but sometimes the adults are watching some sports show and opt to wait.
I decided I didn't want to have any holidays anymore after 40 years. It's expensive and a lot of work. Also it’s changed. I miss the way it was, but I'm glad there's at least the opportunity to get together during the holidays and spend time with my family. The “dinner served” is still enjoyable and I still stuff myself.
© Jodi A
When the announcement was made all the kids came running from basements, backyards and up or downstairs family rooms. My brothers, myself and my cousins always had our own table, the "kids" table, and when we got older still sat together away from the adults, usually because there wasn't enough room for everyone to sit together.
We would all take our place at the table and before we started eating the host would say Grace. Then we would begin the long and joyous occasion of filling ourselves til we felt we could burst.
Mom and my grandma never seemed to sit down. or for that matter eat. They were always up getting refills, drinks or even started washing some dishes and silverware for the next course and then again for dessert.
Years later I observed them eating in the kitchen before, during and after serving without sitting down. Although I didn't like that idea of not joining the family at the dinner table, I still grew up fighting off the habit. It was a well honed, handed-down- through- the- generations practice.
My gramma has been gone about 20 years now, my mom 3 years. It's taken a little longer for the next generation after me to take up the task of hosting the holidays. My 30 year old daughter had Easter this year for the first time. It was a small group of seven. My brothers and our cousins are all with their growing families and in-laws now. My son and daughter in law hosted Christmas Eve with her side of the family and included me and my daughter and son-in-law.
Both my daughter in law and my daughter sat and ate at the same time as the rest of us. Food was out buffet style and we could all help ourselves. Drinks were in coolers kept in the kitchen or living room. No pastas were served because it was"too much" and "unnecessary".
Wine flowed with the appetizers of sushi, cerviche and various cheese and cracker offerings, through the meal, and continued at coffee and dessert time.
Lobster rolls and baked pears accompanied the ham at Easter. There were no sweet potatoes. There was no family New Year's Day party this year or last. Guests will offer to say Grace although others have already started eating. Children may eat in the kitchen, basement or living room and are on their iPads or continue to play while adults start eating. "Food's ready!" is still announced but sometimes the adults are watching some sports show and opt to wait.
I decided I didn't want to have any holidays anymore after 40 years. It's expensive and a lot of work. Also it’s changed. I miss the way it was, but I'm glad there's at least the opportunity to get together during the holidays and spend time with my family. The “dinner served” is still enjoyable and I still stuff myself.
© Jodi A
