Striving for Imperfection

That’s one of my New Year’s resolutions (this along with bimonthly ballroom dancing and arriving five minutes early for engagements). Though I haven’t attempted a sit-down dinner for 25 in a few years now after coming to my freakin’ senses, my parties have gotten more and more lavish over the years, and I think Christmas really drove it home: I gotta chillax already. Even with my mom and Kent pitching in considerably in the kitchen, I didn’t sit down and read my new Christmas gift book for five minutes on Christmas Day. That’s just wrong. We did make a tremendous meal. But a friend in attendance (and there were only seven of us, so it didn’t start off unrealistic) mentioned that he felt like he’d hardly seen me since I was in the kitchen most of the evening. This on Christmas, a day for spending with loved ones if ever there was one. Dang it!

And thus a New Year’s resolution was born. This year I intend to still have people over and all, but I’m only serving them salad, soup or casserole or quiche, a loaf of bread and a fruit crisp (or even–gasp!–ice cream)…and we’re done. And I’m going to embrace the potluck. I also intend to sit down for a little light reading on party days, thank you very much.

---