food for the soul

The Lady Third Grade’s celebration was winding down and the second-grader realized it was finally time for him to start counting down to his birthday. And was he ever ready!

“Guess what I’m having for my birthday dinner.” He posed the challenge to the grandparents before we even got to his sister’s cake. “Calzone.”

Well I nearly fell over just thinking of the work of calzone for 9, but I was going to do it until another idea evolved from the conversation … individual pizzas prepared by the birthday boy.

Just that morning, as he came down for cartoons and found his sister and me making the French Toast Bundt, he had asked to help cook.

“On your birthday,” I answered. He accepted this and plopped in front of Jimmy Neutron. When the pizza came up, he was ready, taking orders before everybody left his sister’s celebration “so Mommy can get the right ingredients.” I have instructions to go to The Hill for cheese, etc. These kids really know how to plan a menu … Shopping instructions and all!

We have all been impressed with their planning this year. I have had to do very little coaxing for balance, very few reminders that you have to consider all of your guests, not just yourself, even though you are the birthday kid. So with the winter air back in Missouri I think I’m going to take today to bask in the fact that they really do hear me … then I’ll finalize my menu and shopping strategy for the big get-together we’re hosting the weekend after the pizza birthday.

I have to consider all of the guests. I have to consider how much I’m depending on the help of family … none of whom, thankfully, minds being in the kitchen. I have to consider budget … both money and time … and I have to consider refrigerator space!

I like having a crowd over. I like the way they all land in the kitchen, despite the rest of the house being available to them. I like the memories I have of my brother diving gathering ingredients for the next thing we’ll make while I do the dishes from what we just finished. I like the sound of visiting as it rises to the ceiling and rolls down around me. I like watching families merge at my kitchen table so little ones won’t spill … seeing relatives cluster in conversation, maybe admiring the kids’ artwork or photographs while balancing a plate and a glass. I like the pregnant pause as a single voice gathers the concentration of others. I like the way this pause gives birth to a wave of laughter that washes the concentration away as a punch line’s delivered.

And I like the way we get this with a party of five whenever we have a family meal. Little stories, big laughs, warm fuzzies. Food fuels the body, but a meal … well a meal empowers the spirit.