The Family Dinner You've Always Wanted

For one night only...

you'll see the faces of those you've only ever seen in frames. You'll give hugs to people you've never before embraced. Imagine how sweet those hugs will be...

For one night only...

You'll see those whom you know and love, but no longer see for they were taken from you all too soon. How sweet it will be to embrace each of them once more...

The gathering will take place where half of all family gatherings take place: the house of Aunt Pauline.

Tradition still abounds even on the most unorthodox of evenings.

The tables are arranged in the same manner they always are for holidays:

The dining room where the gals reside hosts a round wooden table big enough to seat about 7 bodies. It shall be lined with a white plastic table cloth embroidered with some kind of classy design befitting of Aunt Pauline's impeccable taste. I imagine the table cloth will be a most special one as this evening Pauline will be seeing someone very dear... someone whom she hasn't seen in almost 30 years...

For the sports lovers, the living room hosts a square, navy blue card table that will seat my father, cousin Karen and whoever else decides they'd rather not dine on a crowded couch with their food on a tv tray in front of the loud boob tube.

There will be no musical tune filling the air as the buoyant laughter and playful jabs from one another is the only tune we ever need and really ever want.

The usual guests are already in attendance as the delectable juices from the homemade dishes waft in the air.

You can smell the anxiety and angst of the guests almost as much as the feast before them...

But just when you start to think all hope may be lost, there is a shadow at the back door.

Do you recognize that shadow? Is this someone you already know? Remember, there will only be new faces for you and your sister as the rest of the family is already acquainted.

The door opens and the mystery guest is revealed. You don't know this person, but you recognize the dark hair, brown eyes and crazy long eye lashes immediately. You've seen too many family photos not to know... that it's Kelly. He's finally home. He's late, but from the stories you've heard, that seems to be pretty typical.

You can't wait to meet him. Wrap your arms around him. Your whole life you've heard how much Kelly "would have loved you girls"... and now the time has finally come to look into those big brown eyes of his.

You've got to wait at the end of the line though. Your family hasn't seen Kelly in almost 30 years- they get first dibs. And rightfully so. Pauline can't seem to let him go, however.

She carried him for nine months, raised him in the kitchen with her- instilling in him a similar love for cooking- only to have Leukemia snatch him away from her at the young age of 30. She can hold him for as long as she needs, tears streaming down both her face and his.

The entire family is in a daze... eyes a glazed in every direction... conversation ceases as everyone is simply in awe.

But this is only the first mystery guest! You have an entire dinner to interact with these long lost, lovely souls. Where are the rest??

Ask and ye shall receive.

Apparently, we're no longer using doors as behind you, there is a familiar voice...

"Hey babe!"

You turn around only to be greeted by faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt. This can only mean one thing. It's Grandpa Hutchison. With tears already in your eyes, now they are streaming as you wrap your arms around his waist and dig your head into his chest. You want to soak him in for as long as you can as it's been so long... But before you know it, Indi is pushing you out of the way so she can dig her claws into him, too. You can't blame her, though- he's her grandpa, too.

You don't want to leave your grandpa, but you hear your grandma calling your name from the other room. You tear yourself away and as your grandma comes into view, you see that there is someone with her. It's an older woman with dark hair. She's pretty busty, too. And she's got a deck of playing cards poking out of her dress pocket... You've never met this woman, but you've heard enough about her. You'd bet money that it's your grandma Groenke...

"Heather, this is Grandma Groenke. She'd like to play cards with you."

Did you call it or what.

You're simply over the moon right now.

You haven't seen a lot of pictures of her, but you've heard so much about her. You hear about her every time grandma and you play cards: "You would've just loved your Grandma Groenke. And she would've loved you."

Here's a secret your grandma doesn't know, though: You've always loved her. Sure you never knew her, but validation from your family and the stories you've grown up with were all you ever needed to know that yeah, she would've loved you. Just as you have always loved her. And boy have you always wanted to play cards with her!

You give her the biggest hug... 27 long years you've waited to hug the woman who's always been a part of you. And yes, it was sweet.

"There's my girl!"

You pull away only to see another familiar face. And he wasn't even talking to you! But it's your Grandpa Buck- Grandma Groenke's husband. But he sees you and wraps you in a big ole hug. He hasn't changed one bit. Still a tall son of a gun with a smile so contagious that you have to smile, too.

You think this emotional roller coaster is coming to an end, but then you see into the dining room table. Two seats are already taken. It's yet another lovely couple. It's Nana and Poppy.

You walk over and give them both a big hug only to have Poppy offer you a handful of peppermints that you politely turn down. He knows you've never liked them, but that never stops him from offering them up. People never change. But you gotta admit, you've missed your Poppy. He's just as silly as ever and seeing him with Nana is only more fulfilling. He still dotes on her. And in the same way he did when they were both together on this Earth. See, he's up and getting her plate of food right now!

It's been a solid five minutes and no new faces. The roller coaster has stopped. Usually on a roller coaster, there's plenty of ups and downs- but not on this ride. This ride has only gone up.

Now that everyone is finally here, you grab yourself a plate of food. You sit down at the dining room table with grandma, Pauline, Debbie, Indi, Grandma Groenke and Nana and Poppy. It's a little cramped... but you wound't have it any other away. Everyone is finally here.

Once you're finished eating, you stroll on out into the living room. Dad is there laughing with Kelly and Karen- talking about the good ole days when they were all teenagers causing trouble. You see the look on Karen's face and she almost looks unrecognizable. She has a glow about her that you assume diminished the day her brother died... it's so good to have Kelly back- even if just for a little while.

You glance over at the couch to find all three grandpas watching the game and cheering. Grandpa Hutchison is in his corner like always not saying much, but you can just tell that he's full of joy to be included in something like a family dinner.

You turn back around only to find the dining room table all cleared and the card deck exposed- ready to be shuffled. In front of you is grandma, Debbie and Grandma Groenke and they're waiting for you.

Go show Grandma Groenke what you've got!

Before you do, however, you look up and thank that special someone for this very special... one night only.