Sunday Family Dinner

When we are at home, we try to have a “Sunday family dinner” at least once, maybe twice a month.  Our three kids (and two grandkids), spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, miscellaneous friends, and other family members are often invited.  We make a big deal out of it.  Grandma Carrie gets out the fancy tablecloth, and we eat in the “formal” dining room, (unless we eat outside).  But, we almost always sit at one big table where we can all share in the conversation.  The menu is often Italian food, because that’s what I like to cook, but it might otherwise be anything from burgers to soup and salad, depending…the food is not really the important part.

We never have a hard time filling the table.  Dinner usually takes a couple of hours as we all catch up on each other’s lives, and talk about whatever is going on in the world.  Carrie and I always love the interaction with family and friends of all ages.  I used to wonder sometimes if my kids really thought anything of it…and then we left on the loop.

A few weeks into the trip, we happened to be talking to our son, Leo.  What was he up to?  Well, it seems he and his sister Carla had invited some of their best friends over for “Sunday family dinner”, and he was barbequing tri-tips while she made some pasta.  So…they do “get it”!  (And, maybe, just maybe, they missed us…just a little).

This morning, Sunday, I sat, silently gazing out the window of Once Around.  My first mate, a very good judge of my moods, asked quietly, “What’s bothering you?”

I replied, “It has been a long time between Sunday family dinners”.

So, within minutes we had invited some of our fellow Loopers to dine tonight aboard Once Around.   Carrie and I ran off to the market to buy what we needed, and tonight we were joined for dinner by Sid and Evelyn from Something Special and Doug and Judy from Moonstruck .    Evelyn brought home made brownies which we saved for dessert. 

Doug and Judy had had a busy afternoon at the T-shirt shop, and we knew by the Cheshire Cat grins on their faces that we were in trouble.  They brought Carrie a shirt that said, “Bilge Bitch” across the chest.  (Judy got one for herself that says, “Galley Wench”, so no harm, no foul, so far…) But, for me, they managed to get a photo of a badly bent propeller printed on the shirt.  Over it were the words, “DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT”.   Nice.  They obviously missed the underlined part in “Arocknephobia” where it says, “…outsiders should not undermine and ‘play’ with the arocknephobic in the meantime”.   I think I’m now scarred for life.

"Galley Wench" and "'Bilge Bitch"

Definitely needing more therapy...

Anyway, after a couple of theraputic martinis I felt better, and we served my kids’ favorite menu:  barbequed steak, bacon pasta, green salad and dessert.  Oh yeah, there was some broccoli thrown in by the Admiral, too.  She’s big on that healthy stuff. 

clockwise:  Judy and Doug from Moonstruck, Sid "Vicious" and Evelyn from Something Special and the Admiral.  Taken after the First Looper Sunday Family dinner aboard Once Around in Mackinaw City, Michigan.  (Garth and Kathy, note the water bucket center-piece).

Of course, copious quantities of California red wine accompanied the meal, as well as good conversation and lots and lots of laughter.  Just like home…almost...

Ok, kids…I’ll admit it…we miss you, too.