I’ve decided that there will be no paper plates or plastic ware in my house. Yep, you heard me right. The only thing used for eating and drinking that will be paper will be napkins, and that’s because I hate to iron.
A couple of years ago I decided to give my daughters part of their inheritance so that I could see them use it. To my youngest, she would get my mother’s beautiful china which I can still remember the day my father gave it to her. This was something that she had wanted forever, she was beyond excited, she was ecstatic that she could now serve special occasion meals in beautiful dishes. I was ecstatic too because I wouldn’t be allowed to wash the china–too clumsy. On those special days we would polish the flatware that was never used, iron the napkins, wash the china and crystal and place them on the dinning room table that only saw food on special occasions.
To my oldest, I wanted to give my china that was given to me by my father. I remember when he started buying it. I was only a sophomore in college living with my sorority sisters, but I was excited. Visions of special dinners popped into my head. I would set this beautiful table, and my mother and grandmother would iron the napkins. My father passed away before all the pieces were purchased, and I could never find the sugar bowl and creamer at any replacement site. On one of my many trips to San Antonio to one of my favorite antique shops I ran across both pieces. I was ecstatic.
Neither of the girls took me up on my offer. The oldest one informed me that she already had a set of china which she does use some of the time (mine looks better). If it didn’t go in the micro wave the youngest one didn’t want it. I tried the sympathy plea– “You will always have something to remember Granny Ruby by”. It didn’t work. I was informed they would always remember her.
What was I going to do with two sets of beautiful china, delicate crystal wine, champagne and water glasses? The champagne classes are not fluted, they are the kind you see in the movies and they stack them. I had flatware and napkins that had nevfer seen the light of day. My husband solved the problem because he had a problem.
One day after a weekend of family as the dishwasher was humming along, he didn’t have a clean plate, and there were no paper plates. What was he going to do? Stop the dishwasher and remove a half cleaned plate? Go to the store and buy paper plates? No, just reach up there and get one of those china plates. From that moment on I decided there would be no paper plates or plastic ware used in my house.
That moment made me realize that I was going to use each and everything in my house. So when you come to dinner you just might have your takeout/delivery on fancy china with paper napkins.
Remember “thisisyourbestyear”. Everyday is special.
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