As long-term readers of this blog may remember, I come from a highly refined and gentle background.
Shut up!
The recent food-centric holiday got me thinking about the table etiquette with which I grew up. (<–No preposition at the end of the sentence)
There was, as I’ve shared on a previous Wednesday, our table service of paper napkins, and glasses made of repurposed jelly jars, which were set in place with the words:
Another day of gracious living.
There was the announcement that a meal was ready for consumption:
Come and get it, ‘fore I slop it to the hawgs!
There was the invitation to enjoy the repast before us:
Eat ’til ya bust!
And there was my grandfather’s ending compliment:
I’m just as full as if I’d had a good meal.
Ah, where is the elegance of yesteryear?
This post is part of Linda G. Hills weekly blog hop, One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner or just like them, follow the link.
A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Sayings from the past.
MA
RAAckerman@Cerebrations.biz
December 1, 2021 at 10:20pmAt least the living was gracious!
acflory
December 1, 2021 at 4:47pmAs a non-American I looked at Dinnah and read die-na. Dinner? Kind of reminds me of my Mother’s first year in Australia. She ventured to a department store wanting to buy new sheets. The highly embarrassed sales person showed her to the ladies loo. 😉
Marian Allen
December 2, 2021 at 1:51pmYes, dinner is prepared. Dinnah is prepayuhed is intelligible to fans of The Rocky Horror Show. The proper response is, “Meatloaf again?!” Your poor mother…
acflory
December 2, 2021 at 6:13pmAaaaah! I loved the Rocky Horror Show but it’s been…omg…over 40 since I watched it.
Unlike Dad [the engineer], Mum never learned to speak grammatical English, but she was a wheeler and dealer and almost always made herself understood. 😀
Dan Antion
December 1, 2021 at 8:31am“ highly refined and gentle background…” Okaaaaaaaay. Maybe not 100% of the time, but I’d welcome the chance to sit at your table.