Nice to see you, David:

Welcome back to the table.

I'm feeling like Mostly Martha this morning. Back in the 50's, the Crew Cuts had a hit record of that title, but I'm feeling more like Martha, of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit their house, Mary spent her time ministering to Jesus while Martha worked in the kitchen. We had 25 people for Christmas yesterday: all members of our family on Ruth's side. My family is all out in the Midwest, except for my oldest son and his wife and kids who are in South Carolina. We made breakfast for about eight people, and I manned the kitchen, making scrambled egg-beater omelets, vegetarina breakfast sausages, toast, farina ,coffee and heating up the tuna cakes that Ruth made a couple of days ago. Ruth set the table and served, and I wanted her to have time to socialize. After breakfast, I was back in the kitchen doing dishes, cleaning up and getting stuff out for dinner. We had a great feast... fried chicken, roast turkey, lasagnan that I'd made a couple of days ago, barbequed meatballs, chili and potato salad Ruth had made, two cooked vegetables, a tossed salad, rolls and surely some other things that don't immediately come to my weary mind. We finished dinner around five, opened presents, and then celebrated our Grandosn Pa-Sah's 17th birthday with a large picture cake, home-made ice cream his mother made, three different pies, fruit salad, cookies, brownies and surely some other things that don't immediately come to my weary mind. Then, I was back in the kitchen until nine, cleaning up, helped by our daughter Dee and daughter-in-law Nina. Ruth received two long phone calls from family who couldn't be with us, and I was happy to give her the time to enjoy them. Finally around 9, we'd wrestled the kitchen mess to the floor (not literally) and I'd done four or five loads of dishes, so Ruth had the time to sit and talk with her/our daughter Dee, while I called my oldest son and his wife, and we had a chance to speak to both of them, and our grandkids. About the time Ruth and Dee were wrapping up their visiting upstairs, I got a call from my youngest son, out in Rockford, Illinois. We talked for an hour, and it capped a wonderful Christmas.

What we worked so hard for was to set a bountiful table, in a beautifully decorated home where everyone could come, relax and enjoy each other. I think we did it. And as often happens, someone came unexpectedly (not an immediate family member) so I ducked downstairs to my office, pulled out a large box where I keep un-assigned presents, and selected a nice gift for him. It's a real pleasure, being able to include strangers in the gift receiving, with no advanced notice. That's not a problem for me. I'd already bought three "Christmas 2007 presents" before Christmas 2006 got here. Some of the presents I have stashed away will be pulled out spontaneously for a birthday of someone who drops by. I've never emptied the box, and don't expect that I ever will.

Ruth and I had a wonderful, quiet Christmas Eve together. I was especially appreciative of that because on Christmas day, we spend the day trying to make sure that everyone has a good time. If they do, we do.

Meanwhile, we've got enough food left over to fill this here kitchen table three-fold.

Please pass the lasagna, and I'd like a piece of that sweet potato pie..

Jerry