Daddy was always looking for ways to do special things for those he loved. It was the summer of our country’s Bicentennial, and for the first time in a long time all of our family was going to be together at the parsonage for dinner on the 4th of July. There were going to be people from 4 generations and I was so excited.
In the weeks before, many plans were being made. When so many came at once, we usually fed everyone in the church’s fellowship hall that was just behind the parsonage. Everyone would sit around one of the big rectangle tables in folding chairs, and we would use paper plates and plastic ware, but this celebration was just too special, and Mamma really wanted to have everyone seated together around our dining room table. The church we had been at prior to this one had given the entire dining room suit to Daddy and Mamma, for their dedicated service, and their wedding anniversary. It was so beautiful. The table could be small, or expand, with leaves placed in its middle, till it would fill the entire room. The chairs were high backs with a cut out that was filled with a beautiful cane weave that made little holes to peep through. Their seats were covered in warm, deep, golden velour that would change from light to dark with a brush of your hand. Two of the chairs also had arms, and they were the chairs for the head and foot of the table.
In our new parsonage, the table sat centered under a chrystal chandelier that Mamma had found at a yard sale, cleaned up, and had installed. She dipped each glass crystal in a bath of vinegar water with just a drop of dish soap, and dried each one by hand with a cloth. When it was done, and turned on, it sparkled like the stars in the sky, and cast little dots of light all across the top of the smooth as glass table. It was such a beautiful effect, that we stood back and admired it. The dining room set also came with a huge china hutch. It was 6 foot wide and almost 8 foot tall. The doors were wood framed glass, so that anything inside, on the glass shelves could be seen and admired from any place in the room. Mamma had put in some candles, and some carnival glass bowls that Daddy had won for her at the amusement park years before. She polished some silver platters and set them in the hutch too, but we had no dishes fine enough to be displayed. Daddy was determined to find some china dishes that we could afford to use for our family’s and country’s upcoming special celebration.
Not having much money to spare, Daddy decided to sell some of his fishing equipment, and one of his guitars. Daddy was very good at making deals with people, but the money he got also had to go for food for everyone, so he had to make the money go as far as it could. While he was out making calls on people in their homes, and at the hospital, he would take a few minutes to run in a store, or yard sale, keeping his eye out for the set of dishes he could surprise Mamma with. Nothing really spoke to him, as he called it, and he was beginning to think he might not be able to find the dishes he knew he was meant to find. Then one afternoon, Daddy came into the parsonage and told me to get my shoes on, he needed my help. I asked him where we were going, but he held his finger up across his lips, telling me not to say anything. The twinkle in his eyes shone brightly, and I began to giggle inside, because I knew that he had finally found the dishes. We got into the car, and headed off on our secret mission. I was really surprised when we ended up at the grocery store. I looked very puzzled at Daddy, but he just took my hand, his eyes still twinkling, and said we would need two shopping carts. Daddy pushed one, and I got to push the other. Once in the store, I followed Daddy to the center of the store just across the aisle from the checkout stands. There was a huge display of the most beautiful blue and white dishes I had ever seen! Each plate, bowl, and serving piece had a different picture from our nation’s history. There was Paul Revere riding his horse, Betsey Ross working on our flag, Washington crossing the Delaware, and at Valley Forge. Pictures of the North Church, Independence Hall, and Monticello also decorated dishes. Even the Boston Tea Party was on the cover of a vegetable bowl. My breath was taken away, and all I could do is smile and imagine them set out for dinner. They were perfect!
The store was having a special promotion, and with each $20.00 of groceries bought, you could buy a place setting or serving piece for a special price. Daddy had already bought one five piece place setting for $1.99 that came in a white box with blue writing. It was hidden in the trunk of the car. Daddy said we had to get all of the place settings that we would need first, and then see how many of the other pieces we could afford by the time the end of the promotion on July 3rd. So that day, and several times a week, Daddy and I went out to “run errands” we would always get two shopping carts, and get $20.00 worth of groceries each, and a place setting for $1.99. When we would get home, I would carry the groceries in and Daddy would hide the dishes in his work area in the garage, so Mamma wouldn’t know till she could see all of the dishes at once.
Mamma was planning on setting the table with our everyday dishes, and, since there weren't enough of just one set, she was planning who would get what so the table would look its best. We made little place cards, and folded paper napkins to make them look more special. Mamma had found a set of gold colored silverware at a garage sale, and in the afternoons we would sit together cleaning each piece and admiring the special set. I felt like bursting trying to keep the secret of the dishes, but I never let on. It was the last week in June, and Daddy was getting a bit worried. We still didn’t have all of the set, and he was having to find a few more things to sell, and people to sell them to, so we would have enough money to get a few of the serving pieces for Mamma. Finally, on July 3rd, about a half hour before the store was to close, Daddy and I went on our final errand, we had to get a platter for the center of our table and dinner. As we approached the dwindling display, the store manager came up to greet us. Daddy shook his hand and asked him how he was doing, how his family was, and such. Rev. Pirtle, the Manager began, I have noticed that you have been in buying a lot of our dishes. Daddy explained how our family was all gathering together, and the surprise we were making for Mamma. That’s when the manager decided to surprise us. He said that we could buy any of the remaining dishes that we needed, without buying any groceries, and we could have them at his cost. Daddy looked down at me and gave me the wink that said “God is Good”. That night we were able to buy serving bowls and dishes, the platter, and the beautiful blue glasses set that the store also had.
When we got home, it was finally time to give Mamma the surprise. As she sat at the dining room table, we carried in boxes and boxes of dishes. Mamma couldn’t speak; she just sat and cried happy tears. We three went to work, and after washing and drying, and carefully placing the dishes the table was set. The room was dark except for the light of two candles Mamma had placed on the table and we all stood back and admired the beautiful sight. That night we thanked God for the dishes, the people who made it possible for us to get them, our family that would be seated around the table the next day, for the food that we would all enjoy together, and for the scenes of our nation’s history printed on each dish.
After dinner on the 4th, the dishes were washed and placed in their new home of the china hutch. Over the years since we have eaten through a lot of good times on those dishes, because Daddy and Mamma said that beautiful dishes were not just for special occasions, but for special people, and family and friends are the most special people of all.
