GUEST COLUMN | james welch
Southern gatherings always include
T TEXT BY JAMES WELCH
The sweet aroma of
grandmother’s fresh-baked
cornbread drifts through
the warm air.
Various thuds and
grunts can be heard from
the backyard as cousins
and uncles toss the foot-
ball around. The dirt flies
as they spin on their heels
to make a difficult catch.
An ever-increasing
pleasance hangs in the air
as family members begin
arriving for what has
become as much a part of
Mississippi as pine trees
or mud. These very infor-
mal family gatherings hap-
pen rather frequently all
across our great state.
The informality of it has
become the very thing that
is so beautiful about it. We
can arrive in comfortable
attire and not be con-
cerned in the slightest, as
today we are completely
surrounded by those who
love us. Flip-flops are the
norm and shorts the most
practical, in the fight to
beat the heat. The impor-
tance of comfort overshad-
ows the importance of
looking prim when we are
back home.
The sounds of children
at play ring with a
resounding and very satis-
fying nature, as their
laughter instantly makes
one smile. Mothers snap
pictures as children run
by, playing cops and rob-
bers or cowboys and
Indians. Jump ropes and
Frisbees lay motionless in
the yard as the children
play chase or climb a tree.
With dirt on their faces
they laugh and play. Even
this helps to ease the
mood and provide for this
unique atmosphere.
Meals of mouth-water-
ing baked beans, delec-
table pulled pork and
uncle Bill’s brisket begin
arriving. Delicious Potato
salad and coleslaw that
combine choice ingredi-
ents which explode with
divine flavor upon each
bite start lining the folding
tables as people congre-
gate around them. Salads
and casseroles are plenti-
ful and recipes are
exchanged. Paper plates
and disposable napkins
are used, to even further
decrease the work
involved, proving that the
ultimate goal is to dissi-
pate any stress that is
brought to the table.
The conversations take
satisfying strolls through
topics like the weather, the
news and how juicy the
hamburgers are. The dia-
logue is genuine and no
ulterior motives exist,
because you’re amongst
family. Almost as a rou-
tine there will be talk of
recent ailments and accom-
plishments throughout the
de family, fun, and fantastic food!
family. Discussions about work, play and life
goals are almost certain to be had. Then, there
will be rejoicing together and grieving together,
where needed, as families tend to do. Topics
never stay glum long, though, before returning
to happy times and reminiscences of all the old
family stories. Lots of laughs help to create a
very unique, light-hearted environment where
you can truly feel free.
The savory smells of pies and cakes fill the
house and begin to lighten the already easygoing
mood as their aromas mix and mingle with the
aromas from the wide array of foods being pre-
pared. By now everyone is anxious to eat after
being subjected to the amazing ways that
Southern foods penetrate all of our senses at
once. We smell them, see them and just can’t
wait to taste them.
Great Southern cuisine penetrates us right
down to our souls. As we eat an amazing culi-
nary masterpiece we begin to become increasing-
ly happy. Our souls crave great food as much as
our stomachs do. Each enjoyable bite comes with
an increased pleasantness, until we feel that our
souls are filled. Each sweet flavor seems to
sweeten our mood and each spice seems to spice
up our lives. With each delightful bite we can
delight in how wonderful life is and savor the
moment.
We use these meetings, comprised of great
food, family and friends, to celebrate everything
from Little League games to The World Series.
We gather in this way, over great Southern
entrees, to celebrate a wedding or an anniver-
sary, when we see the kids off to college and
when someone retires from a fulfilling career.
When welcoming a baby into the world, one can
expect to find these types of assemblies. No mat-
ter the occasion, I think you’ll agree that these
gatherings are essential to our Southern lives.
The fondest memories I have of my grand-
mother involve her at the stove, or our family
enjoying her wonderful meals. When anyone vis-
ited with her, she began by saying hello and
immediately began asking if they were hungry.
It was very important to her that when you left
her home, you were full, so periodically through-
out a conversation she’d interject with something
like “Would you like a slice of pie?” I now see
that she understood that a good visit was com-
plete when mind, body and soul were filled with
great Southern cuisine.
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