During this holiday season and just after finishing a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner which I served outside on our new deck -  on our Ping Pong Table - I am reminded about how important the Table is in our family.

I like to have eye contact with everyone sitting at the Table and I want to have the Grandchildren involved in the conversation.  The Ping Pong Table was the answer!   It took three table cloths to accomplish this feat.  

When I was raising my family of six children we always loved sharing our meals at the family booth.  Twice a day "The Booth"  became the gathering place in our home.  The first Apple II E computer was placed right in the kitchen next to the booth.  All projects and homework were done at the booth.  So many amazing & wonderful memories happened at our booth.  Laughter, jokes,  new ideas, serious conversations . . .all sorts of family communication.  It was magical.

Then came electronics - Cell Phones-Game Boy-Big Screen TV's-Lap top's-XBox-Wii.  I became jealous of these THINGS that interfered with my special moments at my table.  I  had worked so hard to create great food for them-how could they become so distracted?

After the large Waffle Lady Restaurant was sold I took my waffle dollars and treated my entire family to a trip to Maui.  The rules were:

Well, we had the best time of our lives.  We talked, laughed and loved each other for seven glorious days.  I believe it all started at the table  when they were young.  

I noticed at Thanksgiving there were no electronics at our Ping Pong Table.  I didn't even have to ask for the Things to be left behind.  Everyone wanted to talk & laugh.   We all enjoyed ourselves just like in the "Olden Days".