Feed the Parents

Now that we have an offspring who is engaged to be married, we're becoming well-acquainted with the list of rituals that goes with the territory. Our daughter is doing things a little differently - small ceremony with immediate family only and a bigger bash to follow later (and no, she's not pregnant) - but there are still many of the usual items that need to be checked off the checklist. The dress has been purchased, the invitations have been ordered (and are about to be re-ordered due to an ever-changing wedding date), and we're checking out venues for a still-to-be-determined follow-up reception for family and friends.  Last night, another part of the wedding ritual took place, having the prospective in-laws over for a meal.

This wasn't the first time we've met. We've bumped into them at church; we've shared a drink at a local bar, but this was the first time that we've had the opportunity to sit down over dinner (and a couple of glasses of wine - a nice Cabernet they were gracious enough to supply). Determined to make summer last as long as possible, I threw a couple of marinated pork tenderloins on the grill, chopped up some tomatoes from the garden for some bruschetta and husked the last of the sweet corn. Not wanting to abandon any weapon in my arsenal, I made both banana and pumpkin breads. When you can't decide, make both, right? And how awkward could dinner be it everyone had their mouths so full of food they didn't have time to talk?

Turns out I didn't have anything to worry about. We talked about ourselves, our kids, the wedding, and the merits of home ownership versus renting. We successfully side-tracked politics and religion (plenty of time for that over the next twenty or thirty years) and shared a lot of laughter. I'd say we made it through our first evening together with flying colors.

It's too soon to know if we'll end up being great friends or just see-you-at-birthdays-and-holidays relatives. What I do know is that we're going to be joined together by at least one thing we do have in common - our desire to do anything we can to make sure that our kids start their life together with as much love and support as we can give.

Welcome to the family.