I want to say a word about hospitality.
When I was a girl, going to my Dutch grandparents’ house was where I learned hospitality. We were immediate family, but oftentimes when my siblings and I were there, other people would stop in. They were usually part of the Dutch community, oftentimes family of my grandparents. My grandpa George was the oldest of 11. His siblings looked up to him, also because he was a very kind man, and would visit often.
There was a routine to these visits. First, sitting in their livingroom talking. After a good visit of about an hour, my grandma would then predictably say, “Let’s have a little lunch!” We would all then go into the kitchen, where I could count on a glass of 7-Up, cheese and crackers, and Dutch windmill cookies. Additionally, there were always chocolates with white cream filling, M&Ms, and Nonpareils (see photos).
The Dutch knew hospitality. I don’t think I taught my children well enough of this kindness to visitors. They would never have thought to be annoyed when someone stopped over to visit. No texting, no twittering, no Messenger-ing, but in-person visit time. My grandpa would make his coffee on a gas stove and watch it boil, then pour some into a cup. From the cup, he would pour a little into his saucer under the cup, and drink it from the saucer. I guess it cooled the boiling hot coffee.
Many happy hours were spent around their kitchen table, where they would tell stories to one another, and I was welcomed into the group, though a child. I learned much about family and how to treat a visitor.
1-30-2019
Doctor Grandma 