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| Category: The Sacred In Everyday Life |
Date published: May 12, 2006 |
My contribution, a can of creamed corn...and I was the hostess.
We were new to New Jersey. My husband's co-worker, Dave, and his wife, Millie, had become instant friends of ours.
"Come to Easter Dinner," I said.
Millie and I pooled together our grocery coupons that would gain us a free ham.
"I'll pick up the ham," she volunteered, "and will bring a cake."
"That's good. I'll take care of the rest," I said.
Whenever I have company over for dinner, I go all out, casseroles, several vegetables, rolls, cranberries, pickles, olives, etc. This time would have been no different...if not for the fact...I had no food, and had no money.
My husband's paycheck had been automatically deposited two days before, but I'd not yet gone grocery shopping. Anyone with grown kids still living at home knows how quickly Mother Hubbard's cupboard can grow bare.
It was Saturday. I intended to go grocery shopping, buy the things needed to put on my large spread for Easter Dinner. I would make a second desert to add to the cake Millie was bringing, but wouldn't have to worry about picking up a ham. A small turkey had been added to my list of things to prepare. The checkbook was in my purse, and my purse...missing. I searched everywhere, and I mean everywhere. What was I to do? The banks were closed, and standing on a street corner to beg for money was out of the question.
"You'll just have to call Millie and tell her what happened," my husband said, speaking rational.
"I can't do that to her," I said, "she would insist we go there. I can't put her through that, not this late in the game. We'll just have them come anyway."
"Come to what?" my husband asked.
"Well...we do have a can of creamed corn."
My husband shook his head. This was his co-worker and his wife we were talking about, and we were new to the state, a fine first impression.
Sunday was here. We attended Easter service at church. Upon returning, I prepared for my dinner guests. I covered the dining room table with a fine lace tablecloth, and carried out the china from the china cabinet. Candles were on the table. It might be just cream corn, but at least we would eat it amidst atmosphere.
Dave and Millie arrived. I invited them in and we hugged. She handed me the fresh baked ham, and placed the cake onto the kitchen countertop. A small pan, containing the creamed corn, sat on a burner.
I told them the story, the story of my missing purse, the reason for the meager Easter Dinner. They showed concern for my missing purse, but laughed at being invited to dinner and served a can of creamed corn.
You know, folks, when things like this happens, you have to learn to roll with the punches. This Easter Dinner provided a story to be passed on throughout the years. We've moved away from these dear friends, moved to North Carolina, but whenever we get together with them now, we laugh about that Easter Dinner so long ago.
Oh, and by the way, my purse was found the following day, hidden under some clothing behind the bar in our family room.
"Oh," our youngest said when I found it. "It was in our way, we were playing."
In all things give thanks...and be sure to keep a sense of humor.
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In My Own Words: Out-of-the-Ordinary Experiences
