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Another tradition crushed by the daily grind
Contributed by: Anthonette Klinkerman on 9/1/2006

Disclaimer: This article is merely an observation. It is in no way intended to make anyone feel as though they have failed as a human being for not having enough hours in the day.

That being said, I must ask where all of our time has gone. It appears that no one has time to do anything anymore, including the traditional American Potluck. Given some thought, I'm pretty sure that's how the term came to be - everyone brought something in a pot.

My family attended such an event recently, and I have to propose that the term "potluck" be changed to "Bag-and-Box-luck". A mental inventory of the table concluded that every fast food place, and made to pick-up-between-practices item was well represented, as were the out-of-the-box dessert specialties. Apparently, few people have time to create something to bring in their own pot to such gatherings these days.

My contribution, a type of salad, took the better part of an hour to put together. There it sat in one of my own glass dishes, looking lost among the gaudy styrofoam and plastic containers. I had been looking forward to sampling some new dishes, and quickly bit my tongue when someone said "There's nothing like a potluck." No kidding. Not any more.

I suppose there's the convenience factor of not having to track down your dish and serving spoon, but what about all those containers jamming our already overtaxed landfills? Is it really a struggle to find the time make something in your own reusable container to bring to a function like this?

Any working American will give you a resounding "YES!" when asked, then tick off how many places they need to go, things they need to do. Between practices for this or that, school functions, work, and errands, it truly is easier to pick up or order something than it is to make it. We've all become the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland - no time, running late.

However, I have to point out that Rachel Ray on the Food Network is somehow making a killing on her 30-minute meals books. We have the time to sit and watch her shows, right? Granted, Ray has sous-chefs slice, dice, and chop everything for her, and all she has to do is tip one bowl into another and slide it into the oven. But think about this: by the time we drive through the ATM, grab the cell and place the order, or sit in the drive-thru burning up gasoline, we haven't saved much more than a buck or two and about 15 minutes. Ah, but you say, no mess to clean up back in my kitchen. Go rent "Super-size Me", is my only response.

We have fallen victim to the belief that convenience food is doing us a favor. It isn't. All this prepackaged, prepared food is only buying us more time on the treadmill, and more time in the doctor's office. The food makers' wallets are getting fatter along with our collective national waistlines. Check a label for sodium content the next time you purchase food. If that doesn't stop your heart, I don't know what will.

Making meals at home can be a peaceful, enjoyable family event, not to mention the outcome being more healthy and more appropriately proportioned than restaurant fare. I'm reasonably sure they are not teaching students how to dial a phone or maneuver drive-thru lanes in Home Ec.

Make the time. It's worth it in more ways than saving a few harried minutes. America, save the Potluck!!


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Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Chris Richards
posted on 9/4/2006 @ 1:29:02 PM
Rated Story
I love this. Let me know when your next potluck is and I'll whip up a batch of homemade chicken and noodles and a homemade Angel Food Pie. (The pie is for you because you are such an angel.)
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Anthonette Klinkerman

Castle Pines North

Anthonette Klinkerman has posted 72 stories and 43 comments since joining on 4/14/2006. Anthonette Klinkerman 's average story rating is 4.94.
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