A grandmother and her grandson walk into a bar… No, this isn’t a joke.  Jake and I went out for a drink yesterday afternoon.  The mission was  party planning, you should have guessed that by now.  We started by meeting at Party City, for inspiration, but as I drove up Grandpa was speaking in my ear , ” are you kidding me? a 26-year-old guy meeting his grandma at Party City?, take him out for a drink!!”  And so it goes. 

     After a brief tour of the store, which was new to us both, the basic, and somewhat overwhelming assessment was how “ungreen ”  it was.  Plastic, mylar, excess packaging, everything disposable, can anyone say landfill?  The meeting continued at a nearby watering hole,  actually the cocktail section of a restaurant, apparently you don’t take your grandma to a tavern!!!!!

     Amazingly enough, after we finished our plans and we each had our ‘action items’ listed the conversation turned to family, memories, and food. Imagine that.!

    I want to say here, that there are times when I am working, and or thinking about this blog, I start feeling a bit shallow  That, at this time when we are all supposed to be thinking health foods, fitness, and streamlining our lives, I am thinking about yummy indulgences, served with careful care to  table settings, centerpieces, the formalities of breaking bread together.

     The more we visited the more the guilt oozed from my soul.  Family gatherings, big or small, nightly, or seasonally are where most of life happens, we discussed.  At least the part of life we want to not only build memories, but also to build character, compassion, appreciation for humor, and comaradary.  We learn hospitality and psychology, dependability and accountability, all with a few good recipes thrown in.  

All the learning does not happen at the table.  The preparation, co-operation, and collaboration are all “teaching moments” I think that’s the term we are using today

I have to add that I don’t think anyone has been harmed by the fact that most of these family experiences have been opened in prayer… 

And so it goes,  no more guilt or second thoughts.  After a wonderful visit with an eye -witness to most of what’s gone on here, I feel as excited as ever to share not only our recipes but the life experiences that have happened around our table  and will  shamelessly  continue promoting more of the same. 

Thank you Jacob.

P.S. Jacob,  Kaylee, and I are planning a great party for an amazing person.

Stay tuned