the thirteenth plate

We were planning on 14 for dinner, but then one husband needed to sing in the Messiah. 

So we were down to thirteen. The Gardener surprised me with 12 Christmas plates 

a few years ago, and how I have enjoyed them each Christmas. 

We liked the pattern so much we gathered from here and 

there enough everyday castle dishes to use the rest of the year.  

So a thirteenth, I thought a castle plate would barely be noticed.

This group of friends gets together almost every Christmas season, and it's usually at our house. 

I was thinking 13 would be quite a squeeze for us, and since our kids were going

away for the weekend, they kindly agreed to let us use their house for the party.

It has more room in the dining room, and well, everywhere.

I was determined to bring everything that we needed from our house.

That was extra folding chairs, tablecloth, dishes, glasses, napkins, cutlery,

table decorations, my apron, etc. It was like catering for a party.

I went over in the morning to set the table. It was fun getting ready in their pretty house. 

Everyone brought part of the meal. It was delicious. 

It was festive. It was fun.

And we laughed a lot.

After we all went through the buffet line and settled down to eat,

I suggested they each look inside their place card to see a question to answer.

If they did not like the question, they could trade with one other person without

knowing their question. I'll list the questions we came up with at the end. 

They created a good deal of laughter and discussion.

The only damper to a lovely evening was discovering this 

when we arrived to get the final details in order. 

Our kids, sadly, lost favorite ornaments. Glass scattered far and wide.

One couple came early to heat their food

and helped us clean it up and stabilize the tree again.

The lights kept working, so it still looked pretty.

Questions:

What 5 things would you grab to take with you in an evacuation?

What are you especially thankful for this year?

What new thing have you learned this past year?

If you had to live in a cubicle, what things would you want around you?

What does comfort mean to you?

Describe one of the most memorable persons you've known.

If you had the chance to do one thing over again in life, what would it be?

If money were no object, what would be your ideal vacation?

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