Celebrating Tom's 75th

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​Celebrating Tom's 75th

         On June 12 my mate, Tom, turned 75.

         Three-quarters of a century on the planet, 75 rotations of the earth around the sun, this is one of those occasions that begs the question of what sort of grand celebration is fitting  to mark such a momentous milestone. 
​          Tom was happy to have  a few family members over on Saturday, June 14 for a backyard cookout. With all the trimmings.
          All the trimmings being my department, I put together a menu, one of the variations on the theme of  the usual dishes that everybody likes to have at our family parties.
             I spend a moment wondering, though, if maybe I should do something more special for the occasion. Or if people were getting tired of eating pretty much the same things time after time. 
             "Nah," said my daughter. "Everybody likes your usual party food, and they only get to eat it a couple of times a year. Go with your usual things." So I went with my more or less usual things.
                Here was the menu:
                Hamburgers, brats, and veggie burgers
                Tater rounds
                Sweet potatoes
                Sauteed peppers and onions
                Mexican street corn 
                Coleslaw
                Guacamole and chips
                Veggies and dip
                Birthday cake
                Brownies 
                Blueberry crumble bars
                Cherry almond streusel pie
​                 Peach pie
                White chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies         
​                I always feel like the first thing I need to do on a party day is set up the the serving table. I can't seem to get started on the food preparation until I have the food layout set before me. Though  I can't explain why, it's somehow calming to know that everything has a place. Maybe it's like, "If you set it, the food will come."

      Then it was off to work we went,

...thankfully, with some helpers,

...outside,

...and inside.

     And when all the guests had arrived - there were a dozen of us in all - 

...(not counting the littlest of us),

...and all the food was set out,

...we said grace then dug in.

     Then after a few hours of more eating, chatting and visiting, the day was over. We said our good-byes,

...and the birthday honoree finished his day doing what he always does after a family party.

       Sometimes it's good just to be able to do the normal things.