Twenty five years ago my first
husband and I bought a new home with four bedrooms and three baths, but my
favorite part of the house was the enormous room you walked into from the front
door. It had no dividing wall but the design was to use half of it as a formal living
and the other half as a formal dining.
From the beginning I decided to
make it into one huge dining room that would catch the eye when everyone walked
in through the front door of my home.
My three children were very young, but I envisioned them grown and married. We counted five at the
time, but one day we would grow to eight, maybe more if we factored in
grandchildren, so I bought a table that sat a family of twelve. My husband thought it silly to look that far
ahead and convinced me to buy only ten chairs.
The room looked magnificent – the
long, majestic table, the ten chairs, the buffet, a couple of real ficus, and a
few other nice pieces of furniture – I was pleased.
The table lasted longer than the
marriage, and it has gone with me to every house since then. There were homes
where it didn’t fit and times when it would be more economical to just get rid
of it, but I refused to surrender my dream of family.
It has been used for homework by
two generations and survived an unfortunate homework accident long ago. Every time I change the tablecloth, I run my
hand over the scar and smile at the memory.
My grandsons use it in their play,
hiding underneath it by lying on the chairs or pretending it is a cave. They
help me set the table and hunt throughout the house to find extra chairs. I
love that the chairs don’t match.
It has served many holiday and
birthday meals and has witnessed a lot of laughter and heartwarming
conversation. That table embraces my hopes and dreams.
This Christmas, it will sit
fifteen people. Fifteen of my most
favorite people. We’ll sit five, elbow to elbow on each long side, and two at
each end. The baby will be in his new
high chair, banging on the tray with a spoon or a rattle.
Four others will be too far away
to join us, and one will be in heaven watching down, but if they were here, we
would just put the kitchen trestle table to use. It can sit another eight. The more family, the merrier. All are welcome at my dining table.
What a symbol of love that table is! I wish you many, many happy meals around it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Suzanne. You two are always welcome to come join us.
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Reminds me of being at the kids table and admiring the adult table where everyone sat elbow to elbow. Now I'm an adult and having my family gathered around me feels like such a gift.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Allison. Nothing makes me happier than to look down the table and see everyone smiling and laughing, sharing a nice time with each other. I wish this for all my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post of the past & present...it reminds me of my past and present also. I love the nostalgia and hope in your writing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth. Imagine what a wonderful future is in store for your young ladies.
ReplyDelete