"The only thing more important than what's on the table is who's sitting around it." - Unknown
Write a story, poem or your feelings about this simple statement. You might have to go back to the "good old days" to remember sitting around a table together once more.......
"The only thing more important than what's on the table is who's sitting around it." said Grandpa John.
"Yes, Grandpa, it is always such a wonderful time when the whole family gets together like this," Reba agreed with her grandfather.
"I just wish your grandma was still with us," Grandpa John said sadly, "she so loved these special dinners, and I miss her so much."
"Oh Grandpa, we all miss Grandma Jane," said Reba, Tomas & Ellen, all in unison.
"Now Dad, don't go getting all emotional on us," chastised his daughter, Betty. "Mom is so much better off now than what she was, and we can't go wishing her back. Gone is gone, and Mom is gone."
Betty wasn't a totally uncaring or unfeeling woman, she just didn't know how to handle her fathers emotional side, so she wanted to avoid it. In fact, she didn't know how to handle her own pain and grief, so did her best to bury and ignore that too. It was just easier for her that way.
Grandma Jane's passing had been a terrible shock to the whole family. It had come suddenly to a woman who had always been so healthy and full of life. She had been the kind of woman to do work that interested her, rather than just doing "woman's work", and in fact had worked in a few different male oriented industries. Jane Katz had been an extraordinary woman indeed, so when she was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to asbestos, it had been devastating to the entire family. They had barely had the chance to adjust to this shock when Jane passed away, leaving the family short one matriarch.
"Well, daughter, there is no way you can make me stop missing your mother. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her, in kindergarten, and I married her fresh out of high school. Fifty years. Fifty years we were married. We had just celebrated our 50th anniversary when your mother was diagnosed."
"Yes, Dad, I know all that. I've heard it many times before. I know you miss Mom, we all do. And we don't want you ruining dinner by getting all mushy!"
"Aw, Mom, will you cut Grandpa some slack! Get off his back. You are the only one ruining this dinner," cut in Ellen, angrily defending her beloved grandfather.
"Ruining! I'M ruining dinner?" Betty retorted angrily.
"Now hold on, both of you!" demanded Tomas. "Just settle down. Now is not the time for this fighting. It's Dad's special day. He will be home any moment now, looking forward to a nice, calm birthday dinner with his family. Let's just all agree that we all miss Grandma Jane a LOT. We miss her and we have to go on without her. She loved us all to the depth of her heart and would not want us to argue and fight over anything, much less over her!"
"I'm sorry, Mom," said Ellen, softly.
"So am I dear. Daddy, I do miss Mom too, too much, and that's why I just can't seem to handle any of this stuff."
"I know, Betty, I know. I don't mean to upset you, I just need to talk about your mother from time to time. I'm afraid that if we don't talk about her..." Grandpa John chocked out.
"Dad, none of us will ever forget Mom," Betty affirmed.
"No WAY!" his 3 grand children chimed in together.
Just then, they heard Joseph's car drive into the yard. Silence suddenly fell on the kitchen. As Joseph walked in through the back door it was to a joyous "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
1 comment:
This was a well written and very real portrayal of family life.
As to the quote -- tonight OC took me a a very elegant restaurant and we ate exquisite yummies from fine china and we drank from crystal goblets -- and as I thanked him for the outstanding meal he responded that the only thing better than the meal, was the company. I really love that man.
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