Meals around the table

 Nearly all my extended family lived within 3 miles when I grew up. There were lots of meals around each other's tables. One side had regular Sunday evening homemade ice cream. The other had adventures with food, like oyster stew and garbage can boil. And souse! I always assumed I'd continue the tradition when I had a home of my own. 

I am happy when family is gathered around my table, enjoying the labor of love to prepare favorite foods. And I've hosted many friends and family in the many different places I lived. But I finally chose to marry a farmer from Iowa, and settled 8 hours away from most family. Doug's family is nearby, but doesn't get together that often now that his parents are gone- if they do it's at my table or the other sister-in-law. 

In my imagined adult life, I would have family in on Sunday for homemade ice cream, too. But the choices I made ruled that out. Oh, I do have close neighbors, and when the kids were growing up we met monthly for meals in each other's houses. We still enjoy being together but with marriages and kids we don't get together as often. 

I could translate that important mealtime from childhood and invite new neighbors and people at church. Doug is a private person and doesn't look forward to having people in. He would go along with it, but he's not going to encourage it. To be honest, cleaning, cooking and chatting with guests takes more energy that it used to. I'm amazed that Mom regularly kept it up into her 80s. I've just dipped my toes into my sixties and I'm thinking perhaps I should slow down! One time Mom told me she made a Sunday dinner and asked random people at church to come join her. What fun she had. 

In general, society tends to go out to eat together more than eat around their tables with friends now. But we have church friends who routinely invite groups of people for Sunday dinner. We were recently guests. She had a simple soup and allowed us to bring sides, bread and dessert. So, there are ways to continue this tradition of connecting and being at home with people. I'm thinking about it...