For years my dinner table was crammed into a room that was too small. It was surrounded by other furniture I wanted but didn't have room for. We never ate at it. Occasionally we'd assemble puzzles at the table and more often than not it became a repository for mail, old homework, half-finished projects.

It belonged to my grandma and grandpa originally. That and a hand-carved buffet. I refused to part with it over the years. I am sentimental about "stuff." It was theirs and I loved them and I wanted these pieces of them to be with me always.

Well today, I sat at the head of my dinner table before a feast I'd made with my own two hands: herb-crusted pork roast, homemade garlic smashed potatoes, cabbage, green beans fresh from the farmer's market and snapped by my very own daughter and corn muffins.


Around the table were my daughters, home for the weekend from their father's and my baby brother, in town for a few days. We ate. We laughed. We talked we ate.

And my dinner table, now situated in the middle of a dining room of an appropriate size, looking as exquisite, I'm sure, as the day it was bought, finally got its place of honor.

So to those who say food shouldn't be used to convey feelings, bonds or emotions, I say horse puckey. Food is part of showing love, honoring tradition, connecting us to our past and making future memories.

Today was a good one. ;)

I heartily agree.

I agree, too.  Perhaps for some people food really is just fuel for the body and nothing else.  I don't think that's the case for most people, though.  And I think it's OK if we enjoy food, if we show love by cooking for people, if meals are fun, if eating is a social occasion, etc.

I think it might be a problem if the only way you know  how to express love is by feeding people, and it might be a problem if, for instance, you express love for your children by feeding them lots of unhealthy food.  It might be a problem if eating is the only way you every socialize with friends and family, especially if that always involves unhealthy foods.  It's a problem if food is the only way you ever have fun.

Otherwise, I think it's just fine!

That's great, Nik!! You should post a picture. I'd love to see your beautiful table!!