by Cookie Curci

Sometimes, we'd just sit quietly listening to the oldest members of the family speaking to each other in their native Italian language, though I didn't understand much of what they were saying it enabled me to learn a few words of Italian here and there. Other times, we'd sit listening while papa smoked his DiNobili cigar and recalled family histories and some funny little anecdotes about each of his children.

At these family gatherings Grandma covered the table with a long, red and white, vinyl checked cloth that she kept faithfully rolled up on an old broom handle behind the door, the cloth's bright colors are as vivid in my mind today as the memory it recalls.

Recently while shopping for a replacement chair for my old table, I was told by a sales clerk that dinning room sets are going to be difficult to find. The reason being that the formal dinning room and dinning tables are becoming passé in the modern household. And that most new homes don't have a formal dining room. Due to family work schedules and lifestyles the modern family can't sit down to eat at the same time any more.

I sure hope the sales clerk was mistaken. I would hate to think that the coming generation is going to miss out on the fun and enjoyment we had as kids, gathered around that big oak dinning table exchanging stories, eating wonderful home cooked meals and creating unforgettable memories together.

Our family table had many uses; it was Dad's desk table when he paid the monthly household bills, it was mom's pastry table when she rolled out her pizza and focaccia dough, and it was where the kids in the family played our favorite board games, but most important of all, the table was used for bringing the family together.

It worked in the good old days- why not today?