Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Monday, December 3, 2018

Gifts

It's Poetry Monday!

The topic is Gifts.

Hmmm . . . what to do? What to do?


My parents were a social sort.
And often entertained.
With friends and food and games galore
And fun for hours, sustained.

And in those days of party fun,
When er’ food came in sight,
There were no paper plates to serve
With gusto and delight.

Only the best that could be found
Would aid my parents’ guests,
And so they served on china, fine,
And silver for the rest.

And when the meal was done, the guests
Rose quickly to their feet.
And, as a group, cleared table, and
Would in the kitchen meet.

The duties there were quickly giv’n,
Who’d man the towels and sink.
And in an instant, all was done,
E’en faster than you’d blink.

When I was ten, above the rest
Stood out one woman there.
I watched in awe as she took towel
And dried the silverware.

Her movements were that quick, I found,
My eyes could barely follow.
And soon a gleaming pile she had
All ready for tomorrow.

“I’d love to be that fast,” I said.
“My goal is clear to see.”
She shook her head, “I’m sorry, dear,
You won’t be fast as me.”

I took it as a challenge then
And practiced faithfully.
And finally knew just what she meant,
“You won’t be fast as me.”

For some of us receive one gift,
And some another. True.
Her gift was drying silverware,
And mine? Is telling you.

Mondays do get knocked a lot,
With poetry, we three besought,
To try to make the week begin
With pleasant thoughts--perhaps a grin?
So Jenny and Delores, we,
Have posted poems for you to see.
And now you've seen what we have brought . . .
Did we help?
Or did we not?

Next week, unless you tell us nay,
We Decorate for the Holidays!

12 comments:

  1. I laughed at the ending!, you have a special skill ! My parents were like yours, never paper or plastic even outside there was melmac dishes for that because "we are not barbarians"! I find myself and my husband using that expression too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just thinking of those large gatherings with all the fine china- amazed nothing ever got broken! (Or did it?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ask me about my unique ability to break an entire stack of plates At. The. Same. Time. It's another gift...

      Delete
  3. I love the ending, Diane - it's the best, and true, too. I've embraced paper plates (compostable only, I have standards too, ha ha) for occasions not taking place in our house but for which we are providing the food. It gives everyone a break. Once again, I marvel at the energy, strength, and industry of our parents and grandparents. My mother actually got upset that I took paper plates to her house to serve MY pie ("no one in my house is going to eat from a paper plate") . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooooh! She sounds exactly like my mom! If mom ever bought plastic anything (which wasn't often!) for a picnic, she always washed it afterward. Plastic cups. Plastic cutlery. Yep. I've washed it all!

      Delete
  4. Smiling broadly.
    And grateful for your gift.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wonderful! I think you ended up with the better deal (just between us).

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have a feeling that silverware drying is going to be a dying art Diane - not too many of us want silverware and its maintenance - and I know our kids certainly won't. One day someone will read your poem and ask "what's silverware?" or "what's a tea towel?"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sooo true, Leanne! I know I hardly ever have to dry silverware. Or even plain old stainless. Another fond memory fading from existence! :)

      Delete

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