Nathan - imagine me grinning from ear-to-ear. This post weaves together reality with aging traditions. As boomers (that includes me ;) retire - so too will many traditions you mention here.

Once upon a time I co-created an alternative to the bar scene with a weekly Sunday afternoon potluck events. Post stuffing our face with an always delightful array of dishes and deserts we shifted the dishes to make space for board / card games.

Over time a lovely mixture of family ripened into go-to people in times of need. (The greatest need at that time was taking care of those navigating life with AIDS.)

Our family ebbed and flowed with each passing season based on those inviting new souls (often new to the city).

When I moved to a new state I dearly missed my extended family on Sundays. After the dust of moving settled, I started a new Sunday afternoon potluck with a handful of like-minded folks. Before moving to Hawai'i we enjoyed a couple-dozen regular faces who delighted in dazzling us in ever-creative dishes.