The Saga of the Tarnished Silver

Through the years I've put one many dinner parties, prepared buffets and hosted numerous parties.

Nothing pleased me more than preparing two main dishes and side dishes to go with them, setting a table with the China my husband brought home from Vietnam, the real silver dinnerware I collected from high school on, and later using the wonderful crystal and silver pieces I'd been given at various times including our 25th wedding anniversary.

When we lived in Oxnard, I prepared the food for four of my kids' wedding receptions. We often had other families over for dinner. (Remarkable, since we were probably the poorest of all our friends). We had a party at our house nearly once a month. Of course most of these were potlucks and bring what you want to drink type of parties.

After we moved to Springville, another of our kids got married, again I prepared the food for the wedding reception which we had outside in our carport, minus the cars. Despite the fact our home at that time was also a licensed residential facility for 6 developmentally disabled women, they always joined in on the celebrations.

Years later that same kid got married again, this time in Vegas--but we had the reception at our house and I prepared the food. Another son had a second marriage and we hosted a reception for him too.

I hosted my writers group one evening for a gala event--was a great time.

The last and biggest event we had here was my mother's 80th birthday party. Over 100 people came and yes, I prepared the food. It was an all day event and she had a wonderful time. All of her relatives came and even an old grammar school classmate she had seen in years. Definitely worth the trouble.

Lately, I've taken to using paper plates, especially when I have a crowd over for a meal. I'm not that thrilled with cooking anymore--too many years doing it. Once in awhile I'll make a dish for a potluck at church--my famous chili beans or a hearty beef stew--but lately I've given my daughter money to buy something to contribute.

What about the tarnished silver? Through the years, polishing my silver has been a way for a grandkid to make some money. My two grandsons who lived with me periodically did it when they were in grammar and middle school. My granddaughter who lives next store polished silver for spending money.

Yesterday at church, one of my younger granddaughters, she's 12, asked me, "Do you need anyone to polish your silver?"

I said, "I sure do. Come on over anytime."

Hope she does, it'll be nice to see all that beautiful silver in my buffet all nice and shiny once again. It sure won't get that way through my efforts. And I'm not planning on cooking the food for my other granddaughter's wedding next year either. Time for the younger generations to take over.

Marilyn
http://www.fictionforyou.com

P.S. When hubby and I celebrated our 50th anniversay we did it on a cruise and I didn't do a bit of cooking!