I think entertaining simply runs in my blood. I love it. I love having people over.
Growing up my parents were always inviting friends and family over and my mom continues to be awesome at putting together any type of shindig. We had parties outside, inside, and in the garage. We had dozens and dozens of people over and we had one or two couples over. They ate, drank, talked, laughed, joked, yelled (we're Italian, come on, it's natural! Which reminds me of a funny story: When I had my fellow cheerleaders over to practice they would hear my parents talking and ask me, "why are your parents yelling at each other? Are they fighting?" No, they weren't fighting...that is just how loud we talk! But, I digress...), and played games. As a kid, I used to love it when people came to the house! It meant fun and noise and laughter and probably a slight ease-up on my bedtime.
I remember very late nights...after a meeting or a dinner dance or something my parents were involved in ended...we would never all just go home...we ended up at someones house and that would require more food...usually either a breakfast meal like waffles, pancakes, or eggs or pasta with olive oil and garlic. Whatever could be thrown together quickly for a large group. I love that part of my history and I have tried to show and teach my children how to throw together a meal quickly and with what you have on hand! I wonder now how these people weren't always bone tired? Or, how they managed to get up the next day and mow their lawns? Or, how they got up the next day and went to work? I didn't give that a second thought as a kid but today I wonder how these adults managed it all? Makes me wonder if all our technology hasn't hurt us more than it has helped and has only made us more tired, overwhelmed, and stressed? Maybe we are more committed to all the stuff in our lives and not focused on people and relationships and simply having more fun?
I think the part of me that isn't ready to let go of summer yet is the same person that keeps thinking I can only entertain in the summertime!! Summer just seems to be the ideal setting for entertaining but for the first time in three years I am going to try and break that line of thinking. There is no reason we can't still gather, inside of course, during the other three seasons! What have I been thinking? Sure, sitting out on the patio would be out but that doesn't mean we still can't talk, laugh, eat, drink, have fun, and play games inside!
We have been entertaining a lot since Larry got back (dinners, dessert parties, etc.) and I still have a long list of people and neighbors I'd like to invite over and I can't seem to find enough weekends in my month!!! I have decided that I love to entertain probably as much as my mother does/did and I am going to concentrate now on filling my life with less stuff and less important "things" that bog our family down, especially during the school year, and try and have a bit more relaxing fun with friends and family! Who cares if the house isn't perfect or spotless? Who cares if my dog barks when the doorbell rings or when everyone is sitting at the table (she apparently does not like that)! Who cares if the meal isn't fresh out of Martha Stewart's kitchen? Come over, let's have something simple to eat, laugh, play games, and enjoy a nice glass of wine together! Not perfection, but real life the way it is meant to be lived...with one another.
(Pictures from our recent dessert party...the boys all played frisbee until it was too dark to see!)
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