I had never thought about how much a simple passage about a meal can really say and mean. But then again, I have never thought in depth about how any of the topics discussed in this book matter so profusely. To be transparent, I can't say that I am at a point where I could read a passage about a formal dinner and come to the conclusion of a foreshadowed death, but I'm sure this whole "reading like a professor" thing is a process.
I am very aware of the fact that dinner (or "breaking bread") is incredibly important, though. Symbolically and in reality. My family eats dinner together almost every night. A typical Canfield family dinner will start with my mom in the kitchen. She makes a list of the things she will need on Saturday and goes shopping the same day to buy groceries, and sometimes her meals are so extensive that she has to prepare food a day in advance just so that it will be ready in time for dinner the next day. My dad comes home from work around the time dinner is ready- he always gives her a kiss and comments on how good the house smells. I set out the plates and utensils while my brother sets out the drinks. Very typical, as we are a very typical family. During dinner, the topics of conversation never vary. My dad or I will ask my mom how her day was, she'll reply with "Thank you for asking! My day was _______." and she will tell us the details of her day at work. The same thing happens with my dad- usually it is my responsibility to ask him about his day. Usually my mom will ask Ryan, my brother something like "did anything unusual happen at work today?" to which he replies with either a shrug or a shake of his head. After complimenting her cooking, my brother and I will ask permission to be excused, which we are granted. I wish I were exaggerating, but I'm not. I could write a script of 6:00-6:30pm every day that I've sat down for dinner, and it would be virtually word for word.
As I read over what I have written and reflect, here are some takeaways:
1. My mother puts a lot of effort into preparing these meals, and she places a ton of value on our scheduled dinners together.
2. Each member of our family has a designated or implied responsibility regarding mealtime. I believe that these responsibilities provide my parents with at least the illusion of being the family that has it all together. We each have our duties, we all perform them, and as long as we do that, then nothing can be too far out of place.
3. There is a reason my brother keeps his mouth shut. I remember a time when my brother would be the one at the dinner table who would always make us laugh. Dinner was fun when he was there- sometimes I would laugh so hard I would end up out of my chair and on the floor. But my parents are in a longstanding disagreement with Ryan which has sucked virtually all of the comfort and ease out of dinnertime. As intricately as I know that this issue is present because I am a part of the family, I have no doubt that a third party reader with no insight into the inner workings of the Canfield family would be able to sense a stiffness in a literary portrayal of dinner at our house.
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