Tradition and Moving forward

How to keep the connection while changing for the different times

Almost ready for the new-old tradtion

My mother-in-law, Laura prepared special dishes for the holidays. We treasured and looked forward to them each year as thanksgiving and Christmas drew close. My favorite was a composed salad that was served in old fashion champagne goblets. Festive, colorful and delicious it always drew gasps when it was served.

And I’ve been carrying on the tradition, sort of. Champagne goblets? Who has them lying around? I improvised. I served the salad in a large glass platter and people served themselves. Ooo and ahs all around every time. But this year, my husband’s siblings and their children are coming to our house. How are they going to react to the improper presentation? Laura, being an artist, insisted on the perfect display as well as the specific ingredients and taste.

This will be the first time the family was getting together for a holiday after Laura’s passing. Nerves and expectations were dialed on high. Multiple emails, texts, and calls crisscrossed the country; small details were debated, agreed upon and reconfigured repeatedly. It made managing a corporation seem easy in comparison.