OK, as usual, I am a little behind in wrapping up the gratitude. I'll get to it.
But sometimes, you need to point some obvious things out to the world.
A pot luck, by definition, should involve some element of luck.
People show up and bring food.
If you're worried no one will bring food you like or can eat, you bring food you yourself like and can eat.
If the lack of a signup sheet means everyone coincidentally brings dessert? OH WELL.
At the last pot luck I had, almost everyone coincidentally brought alcohol instead of food of any kind. OH WELL.
I have slightly more sympathy for people who try to mitigate the all-dessert possibility by assigning broad categories, but only slightly. And specific sign-up sheets, where you have to declare exactly what you will bring more than a week in advance, are for people who can't handle actual pot lucks. Those people would do better to not have them. That's what caterers are for.
Or, you could face your fears and take the plunge.
It's just one meal. Maybe something exciting will happen.
Discuss. I know some of you do this. Why?
Monday, December 2, 2013
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10 comments:
Statistically, everything will happen. But I keep waiting for the potluck where everyone brings Rice Krispies Treats.
Then again, when it does happen, I probably won't be there to see it, because I've never taken Rice Krispies Treats to a potluck. Fried cicadas, yes...
I still have that sperm candle from your last Yankee swap/pot luck party in Arlington. But that's neither here nor there.
Mike: ...and won't you be sad if one time you are at ALMOST that pot luck, where everyone ELSE brings Rice Krispies treats, and you are the one who ruined it by bringing something else?
If so, don't be. It's POT LUCK. They all knew it was a possibility.
Joe: Excellent. I am sure Michelle is thrilled.
I find that people who don't usually attend potluck need more guidance. I've taken to potluck for most of my parties, and would be happy if everyone brought Rice Krispies Treats (imagine the time spent doing taste testing!), but it seems most of the guests panic at that idea.
And for the record, a party that served fried cicadas would be a party I'd go hungry.
Jennifer- I was at that party, and there was no way you would have gone hungry. SO MUCH delicious food, prepared by SO MANY loving hands. So one guy brought fried cicadas. Many people didn't eat them. I tried one, and lived to tell the tale.
Pot luck means that you will only very rarely have everyone bring fried cicadas.
Also, maybe I'm a little ridiculous at this point, but it seems like it's fine to assuage panicky guests by suggesting they bring those amazing cookies they made that one time, or that if they're worried about there not being enough "real" food you'd love it if they brought a salad, or whatever, while still letting other guests do what they do.
A rigid in-advance sign-up sheet just seems strange to me, and like it takes at least some of the fun out.
I know some times when something exciting has happened. The chips+everything-I-had-frozen-in-my-freezer,-after-a-quick-thaw time especially. I also like the Geoff-came-on-the-wrong-night-but-there-were-lots-of-leftovers time, though that is not really what we're talking about. I really miss the potlucks--not the food so much, but the sperm candle and the pickle.
And the people. Like my upstairs neighbor.
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