The Proverbial Potluck

Posted by Jeremy in community, family, food, frugality, gratitude, simple living

This week we participated in two potluck meals. The first was Friday afternoon at the research station and was themed "Family Recipes". The second was last night and was a pioneer theme.

Potlucks are an amazing thing. A group of people get together and provide a smorgasbord of food. It is always a mystery; no one is ever quite sure of what the palette will consist of. And every potluck requires at least some element of faith and charity. Faith that the food will be safe, edible, and (hopefully) tasty. And charity to eat at least a little of most of the offerings and smile and offer compliments even if they aren't entirely deserving. For those reasons, potlucks are both an adventure and treat.

At the event yesterday, the host family pulled out all the stops—even putting on a goat milking demonstration.

Not only do potlucks provide an opportunity to sample the fare favored by your friends or colleagues, they are a great opportunity to build community identity. Something I am learning is just as important as just about anything else, except family and faith of course.