Week 39 - Disappeared - Porter

As a kid growing up in the 50's and 60's, there was a weekly routine that was followed by our family pretty much all the time.  As the middle of five daughters, I grew up with seven of us—Mom, Dad, and all us girls—crowded around the table at every meal.

Monday through Thursday, dinner went on the table at 6:00 PM. And you better be there. We all sat down together, ate together, said please and thank you and at the end of dinner, you asked to be excused and took your plate to the kitchen. My job was to set the table and then after dinner I was expected to sweep the dining room floor. My older sisters would start the dishes, but the younger ones were excused from those nightly chores.

On meatless Fridays it was pancakes, French toast, macaroni and cheese or tuna casserole. 

On Sunday's we would all read the paper and fight over the funny pages.  By the time all five of us, plus Mom would read the paper it was a total mess. I loved reading Ann Landers and checking out any weddings and engagement announcements. I remember having Silly Putty and spreading it out thin and putting it over my favorite cartoon and then peeling it back to see the imprint.

Stock photo

Sunday dinner was served at 2:00 PM. Sharp. And my favorite was mom's roasts...beef and pork roasts together in the big red roaster with potatoes and carrots. She would make enough gravy for thrashers and would make biscuits and apple salad also. The salad was made with lettuce and chopped apples, and mom would make a mayo dressing for it. It was such a simple thing, but very memorable. Dessert wasn't common, except during strawberry season. Then it was shortcake time.

Those times of daily traditions, family discussions at the table and working together seem to be a thing of the past.  Those days have disappeared and they are sorely missed.

Barbie


 

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