Holiday Gatherings!!
The holidays remain esteemed because the joyous celebrations that take place. Extended families gather from around the country, in some cases, the world to experience the joys of their bond. Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and those who have been bestowed with those titles descend upon on structure, testing the frame of the house in what can be the most challenging weather. Children young and young at heart remain in awe of the goods that are produced from the kitchen as mothers, aunts, and grandmothers proudly showcase their culinary skills. Every gathering is reminiscent of the first time, the air filled with dibbs and threats as each phase of the grand feast is completed. Each family has at least one woman who doesn’t need a degree from the Le Cordon Bleu School to affirm her talent. The silence at the dinner table stands as a testament to the caliber of her talent skill.
The men of the family of spend hours recounting the events of importance from the past year, each a set of recollections attempts to make this year more unique then the one prior. The catalog of births and deaths are interwoven with the currents events that strike accord with the familial conscious. It is in these gatherings that the blue collar scholars bring CNN to the living room, imploring the young college men take note of what they won’t be taught in their classrooms. The diplomacy of the den deals expertly with all grievances, from disputes between cousins, to the precarious business of foreign affairs. It would seem that this gathering of old men could indeed solve all the problems of the world, if only they would step completely into the twentieth century. In doing so however, they may very well stand to loose the very talent that requested their presence.
The men of the family of spend hours recounting the events of importance from the past year, each a set of recollections attempts to make this year more unique then the one prior. The catalog of births and deaths are interwoven with the currents events that strike accord with the familial conscious. It is in these gatherings that the blue collar scholars bring CNN to the living room, imploring the young college men take note of what they won’t be taught in their classrooms. The diplomacy of the den deals expertly with all grievances, from disputes between cousins, to the precarious business of foreign affairs. It would seem that this gathering of old men could indeed solve all the problems of the world, if only they would step completely into the twentieth century. In doing so however, they may very well stand to loose the very talent that requested their presence.
It is in this setting that I reach one of my more frivolous dilemmas, whether or not the appropriate holiday aroma is Douglas Fir or Sweet Potato pie. It stands to reason that it is Christmas and the presence of a tree would mean that an eight foot air freshener would be the predominate scent, but if you’ve ever been in the dining room when the pies emerge from the oven, their glistening faces wrapped in the golden brown smile of a perfectly tanned crust, then you’re quite familiar with the aroma stealthy fills the dining room as they begin to cool on the table. That settles it, the post dinner holiday air is partly scented with sweet potato pie.
The next order of business is to find a Mr. Norman Rockwell. It appears he’s the man who popularized the notion of joyous family gatherings. I’ve been blessed with only a few of these and none of them were as smooth as Mr. Rockwell illustrations. One time, we managed to make it all the way through dessert, with 85% of the family present before the discord reared its ugly head. Looking back at it, that was actually one of the better gatherings. I’ve been informed by friends & acquaintances alike that these things never actually take place and for the most part I’m quite alright with that.
Every few years though, near the big two (Thanksgiving & Christmas) I get all nostalgic and allow myself to dream that this year, the great family gathering can be reborn. It’s akin to walking into a china shop with a kindergarten class, expecting to leave with no damages. That’s right, pointless and dangerous. Who actually expects a five year to appreciate the beauty of a fine bone china platter?
This year, I came close, I started drafting the letter that accompanies the permission slip, explaining the importance of the field trip, gently trying to convince the parents (myself) that it was a worth wild experience. Somewhere into the second paragraph I decided that I had lost my mind and did what any thinking man would do, I trashed the whole project and walked away to shoot billiards.
Since Father Time caught Mr. Rockwell before I could, it’s been my declaration to remain content to spend the holidays with my immediate family and the friends who are so gracious as to save me a plate. It’s mildly awkward to arrive during the holidays and not eat anything.
Every few years though, near the big two (Thanksgiving & Christmas) I get all nostalgic and allow myself to dream that this year, the great family gathering can be reborn. It’s akin to walking into a china shop with a kindergarten class, expecting to leave with no damages. That’s right, pointless and dangerous. Who actually expects a five year to appreciate the beauty of a fine bone china platter?
This year, I came close, I started drafting the letter that accompanies the permission slip, explaining the importance of the field trip, gently trying to convince the parents (myself) that it was a worth wild experience. Somewhere into the second paragraph I decided that I had lost my mind and did what any thinking man would do, I trashed the whole project and walked away to shoot billiards.
Since Father Time caught Mr. Rockwell before I could, it’s been my declaration to remain content to spend the holidays with my immediate family and the friends who are so gracious as to save me a plate. It’s mildly awkward to arrive during the holidays and not eat anything.
Comments