A Deliciously Sweet and Bubbly Day

I think punch is the quintessential party beverage. Deliciously sweet and bubbly. Saturated with fruit juice and effervescent soda. Sometimes spiked with vodka or champagne or ice cream. Even its name has energy. . . PUNCH! Punch seems like a mini party in a little glass.
Mom didn't often serve punch. Usually it was reserved for bridal and baby showers, but Jim's upcoming family reunion in Arlington Heights, Illinois seemed like a perfect occasion to mix up a batch. Mom's collection of recipes offered many choices. I immediately disregarded any recipe with ice cream (too messy) or booze (too many kids around the punch bowl). One of her recipes lists "a large ice block" in the ingredients. The ice is not chipped or formed into a pretty mold. The punch is simply poured over the block. That recipe went into the "NO" pile. This recipe calls for 1/2 bottle of Vodka. REALLY? Notice it makes "1 punching bowl". I can't help but wonder if the author was sampling punch when she wrote this recipe for Mom. I chose to make is a beautiful recipe from Mom's dear friend, Eloise Lindem. This was the punch "Auntie" Eloise served when she hosted my bridal shower.

Our party gathered on a perfect summer's afternoon at the home of Jim's niece, Cheryl, and her family. Jim's two sisters, his brother, their spouses and most of the children and grandchildren relaxed under the shade of a honey locus tree. For hours we sipped punch, ate barbecue, and feasted on peanut squares (Mom T's recipe) and brownies. Little cousins romped in the bouncy house until they were exhausted. Teen cousins wandered through the park and later had deep conversations in the family room. Some grandchildren developed their entrepreneurial talents by selling rocks found in the neighbor's yard. The best bargain was Andrew's offerings for 1 cent. The most expensive were Max's river rocks for $1.00. Many grandmother and aunts went home with heavy purses! We all cooed over the new baby and toasted the parents of this beautiful family, Byron and Helen, both long gone but with us always. Mostly we talked and laughed and counted our blessings as a family.

Next year we'll gather again, this time at our home, to celebrate Byron's 100th birthday. I don't know if there will be new family members, or if we'll have punch. I am sure we'll laugh and reminisce and celebrate being a family. After the party is over, we'll be left with deliciously sweet and bubbly memories of a perfect afternoon spent with those we love.
Love to you all,
Patti