I was challenged by the Memoir Mondays prompt at Two Writing Teachers. Write about memories at a beloved eatery, they said. I knew immediately the spot to describe.
There is a place I have been eating for years… and the memories are as varied as the foods.
My dining room table.
My dining room table is why I learned to cook. Six people waited there to see what I had to bring to the table. Together we taught our tongues to try new cuisines, new animals, new textures. We filled our bellies with Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas chili and Fourth of July baked beans. We built a repertoire of “remember when” stories over Mexican Beef Rice, pumpkin soup, and cherry cream pie.
At my dining room table we endured soon-to-be ex-boyfriends, evaluated future sons/daughters-in-law, and strengthened new and old friendships. We entertained Marine buddies that we would never see again. We fed neighbors that wouldn’t go away!
Around my dining room table we have celebrated birthdays for family members from four generations, and mourned the loss of my brother, my father and my son.
On every occasion, upon being seated, we joined hands and the gathered circle bowed heads while my husband thanked God, who provided food for our bodies, and salvation for our souls.
I love my dining room table.
Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Psalm 128:1,2
6 comments:
Barb,
Thanks so much for sharing our dining room table and its memories here. I see it with all your mouth-watering details. I think it's a great piece to share with your students.
Welcome.
Bonnie
The dining room. This is an awesome memory for me too. Spending time with family around the family table is said to be rare. I wonder if that is true or not. Our family spends time there too. I appreciated reading all your descriptions of the memories. www.debrennersmith.com
Mmmm ... I love the sound of your dining table, too! Thank you for sharing this lovely comfort/sense memory. Something so special happens when families have the habit of gathering together to eat and talk and just be in one another's presence.
Happy to have you on-board for Memoir Mondays.
:)
The table as metaphor for family and the center of activity - that is a powerful symbol.
I remember when we got a new (to us) table from an elderly woman, who was giving it away because she had to move to a smaller apartment. She talked about how the table was such a part of her family and her house. It was tender.
She was happy to pass it along to another family, though, and now our experiences are part of those experiences. (And assorted food from the kids)
Thanks for sharing
Kevin
Thanks for the welcome. I hope that the family at the table is NOT a thing of the past.
Kevin, our table came to us via estate auction, with that family tearfully wishing us the same happy times they had experienced. Interesting - the similarity in circumstances.
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