Welcome, Ven a gozar!

It is surprising how common everyday objects that we hardly notice become a crucial part of our lives and we don’t even realize it. I am writing of the humble table we all have in our homes. About the most time we ever spend thinking about our table is before we buy it. After that about the only attention it really receives other than cleaning, is when company is coming, and we are trying to make it look as pleasing as possible.

When we were in school most of us did our school work on our table, either in the kitchen or in the dining room, before or after dinner. When there was no homework, it was the weekend, or we could not go outside, we play games on the same table. Fortunes are won and lost, as properties were traded and real estate moguls were created. Both amazing, and lucky plays are made playing our board and card games. Pacts are made with other players only to be broken when it seemed it was the worst possible time for us. We were heroes or zeros in the roll of the dice, or the flip of a card.

The real character of our family members, and friends comes through depending on how they conduct themselves while winning or losing, and how they play the game. Cheating is found out and dealt with severely in this game, or encouraged in another game. Losing poorly is punished, as is gloating too much when winning. Our opponents around the table are quick to point the weak spots in our play, and our personality, of course they smile as we lose, and they push our buttons to make us angry.

As we became more worldly, games with real money take the place of our other games. Small but real mini fortunes are made and lost, bragging rights established, and we learn a little more about the value of money, especially if we lose some of ours. After a given time most of learn that money is too hard to earn and too easily lost to play with in games of chance. Unless it is a holiday, and the family is getting together, and we feel lucky.

As we became older, we sit at the table and make life decisions. We plan out our future, our weddings, funerals, and pay or not pay our bills depending on how life is going this month. We listen to salesman trying to make a buck by selling us something we really do not need, and probably can not afford. We share meals with family and friends. We listen to the woes of others and others listen to ours, across the table.

We peel potatoes, slice carrots, do science projects, and hopefully learn the value of service to others at the table. When we are setting the table we usually think about the person’s place we are putting the plate down for, and what we think of them that day. Whether we are happy with them, angry, hurt, or indifferent to them. If we are angry with them, they will get the worst plate, cup, and silverware. If it is company, we are wondering why they are here, and what stories they will have for us to hear since their last visit. They always see and use the best we have in the cupboard.

At the end of the day we sit around the table and talk about times past. Those stories someone thinks are important to family knowledge. They tell a story they learned from someone no longer around any longer. Sometimes we have coffee, milk, or tea to make the time either special, or bearable depending on how important it was to you that day. Don’t forget the pie or cookies….

In many cases, our lives, when they come to an end, there is no need for scales to weigh the good and bad, to see how they balance out. All that is really needed is all the tables we sat at throughout our lifetime. Such stories those tables could tell about the real us.

Comments (0) Nov 25 2007