Wednesday, October 27, 2010
6:53 PM | Posted by
Unknown
I have noticed something about the old potluck dinners. You may not be old enough to remember what real potlucks were like. The object was that you said to all your neighbors, "Hey! Let's have dinner together. This is casual. We are just getting together to enjoy each other's company, so bring whatever you like." Very interesting concept that, getting together just because you liked each other.
See, the old potluck dinners, though they didn't know it at the time, embodied a mindset that no longer exists. Back then it was understood that life is fragile. Sometimes people had tragedy in their lives, and everyone had to be able to rely on each other. They trusted each other. So how does this fit with dinner you say? I'll tell you. It didn't bother anyone that they didn't know what anyone else was bringing to eat. That was half the fun. If everyone brought rolls, then it was like a giant scone fest. Out came all the jams, jellies, and spreads, and everyone had a good laugh over it. They may end up with a dessert showcase instead. But then no one ever complains about too much dessert.
The company was paramount at a potluck. The "luck" part was just for fun. So when did we run out of luck?
I live in Hawaii. Perhaps there are places on the mainland where real potlucks still take place, but not here. The modern culture is run by a sense of this ultimate ability to control everything in their world. Nothing is left up to chance. It just isn't done any more. Today's version of a potluck is to call it a potluck (that gives it that old fashioned flare and makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy), but they post a menu list with categories, and everyone has to sign up for one of the limited number of slots in each category. Where is the fun in that? That isn't a potluck, that is a planned menu.
People act like there is some big conspiracy in play if you suggest that we leave the menu up to chance. They have to know exactly what each person is bringing, and in what amount, or they act like someone or something might get them in a dark alley. I've tried to talk people into doing it up right, but have been informed that I'm being silly. After all, you can't leave such things to chance. The women look at me like they really want to say, "Leave it to a man to be such a dunce about a social function!", but are just too polite to say it out loud.
I guess this is what happens when you don't notice that the world has changed. I must have missed that memo. My son is having a potluck this weekend for his birthday. I tried the potluck pitch on him, but instead have received two Facebook reminders that I need to go sign up for what I am bringing so that there are no duplicates at the "potluck."
The original definition of barnacle was a type of grey goose. Now it means just a crustacean. I guess my definition of potluck has gone the way of the barnacle goose, and me along with it.
See, the old potluck dinners, though they didn't know it at the time, embodied a mindset that no longer exists. Back then it was understood that life is fragile. Sometimes people had tragedy in their lives, and everyone had to be able to rely on each other. They trusted each other. So how does this fit with dinner you say? I'll tell you. It didn't bother anyone that they didn't know what anyone else was bringing to eat. That was half the fun. If everyone brought rolls, then it was like a giant scone fest. Out came all the jams, jellies, and spreads, and everyone had a good laugh over it. They may end up with a dessert showcase instead. But then no one ever complains about too much dessert.
The company was paramount at a potluck. The "luck" part was just for fun. So when did we run out of luck?
I live in Hawaii. Perhaps there are places on the mainland where real potlucks still take place, but not here. The modern culture is run by a sense of this ultimate ability to control everything in their world. Nothing is left up to chance. It just isn't done any more. Today's version of a potluck is to call it a potluck (that gives it that old fashioned flare and makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy), but they post a menu list with categories, and everyone has to sign up for one of the limited number of slots in each category. Where is the fun in that? That isn't a potluck, that is a planned menu.
People act like there is some big conspiracy in play if you suggest that we leave the menu up to chance. They have to know exactly what each person is bringing, and in what amount, or they act like someone or something might get them in a dark alley. I've tried to talk people into doing it up right, but have been informed that I'm being silly. After all, you can't leave such things to chance. The women look at me like they really want to say, "Leave it to a man to be such a dunce about a social function!", but are just too polite to say it out loud.
I guess this is what happens when you don't notice that the world has changed. I must have missed that memo. My son is having a potluck this weekend for his birthday. I tried the potluck pitch on him, but instead have received two Facebook reminders that I need to go sign up for what I am bringing so that there are no duplicates at the "potluck."
The original definition of barnacle was a type of grey goose. Now it means just a crustacean. I guess my definition of potluck has gone the way of the barnacle goose, and me along with it.
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