I have a big family. Eight siblings, Fifty-plus nieces and nephews both great and regular, and of
course, the matriarch of the whole motley crew, my sainted mother. Cousins, too, and a
handful of friends who count as family. It’s a big group.
We love to get together, and I have a big yard that is centrally located, so my house often
serves as the landing pad.
Over the years, pot-luck has become the norm, and it’s great. But now, even that tried-and-true
method has become unwieldy, as I do not live in Downton Abbey and it had gotten to the point
where, once that many people bring food, every surface in the house and on the deck was
covered with a covered dish (including the downstairs bathroom vanity-there is a certain
efficiency I didn’t hate about a platter of taco dip that close to the toilet, but still).
What to do??
I’ll tell you what: skip to the good part, and just do ice cream.
One of the greatest freedoms of adulthood is eating dessert first, right? We’ve earned it!
Anyone who wants to make sure they’re getting their own or their family’s daily nutritional
boxes checked is certainly welcome to do so, on their own time.
The first rule of Ice Cream Party is, don’t talk about the lack of nutrients involved.
I’ve hosted ice cream parties twice this summer, and they’ve been huge hits. I provide several
flavors of ice cream, whipped cream, a fun assortment of sauces and toppings like chopped-up
peanut-butter cups, granola, and rainbow sprinkles along with on-theme festive cups, utensils
and napkins, and throw open the door. DONE. A perfect way to hang out with my favorite
people, everyone leaves happy, and no one has to pretend they liked that weird bean salad you
made that one time.
Okay…truth. The first time I did this, I provided the cute, festive cups and all the accompanying
accoutrements, and set up an ice cream bar on my kitchen island worthy of a Hallmark movie. I
filled a hammered metal bucket with ice and waters. Cute! Fun!
Last night’s party was a bit last minute, so…I just went down to my basement and dragged up
the bin of random paper goods (don’t act like you don’t have one) I’ve accumulated over the
past two decades, tossed it on the island and let everyone dig through and find a spoon and
something to put the ice cream in. Turns out, a Halloween-themed snack-plate holds
peppermint bon-bon just fine, and while it’s not quite as easy to eat it with a broken plastic
fork, it’s not impossible.
I also skipped the toppings, because again, it was last minute and let’s be honest, that adorable
bowl of chopped-up peanut-butter cups I put out last time? I’m pretty sure my husband just ate that (with hot fudge, of course).
Ice cream party number two wasn’t as cute…but it was just as fun.
Because the point is gathering with our loved ones, and when you open your home and don’t
care that a gaggle of little ones are screaming through your legs covered with ice cream, people
have a great time. I woke up to a dirty diaper in my kitchen trash can this morning, and it made
me happy. I love these folks, the ones I grew up with and the new ones who are now coming
into the group, either as spouses or partners or newly-birthed babies, and they know they are
loved, and part of this family.
My brilliant father once wrote: “And there were many more joyous hellos than there ever were
sad goodbyes.”
Joyous hellos. Connection, not perfection. That’s what it’s all about.
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