The Heart of the Table | The Art of Gathering
Neighborly Grace In the Hurricane
It was over a decade ago that a monstrous storm hit us along the coast of South Florida. We completely lost power for several weeks, and it took about that long for the grocery store shelves to re-stock.
What happened during the days immediately following the storm was truly spectacular. Initially, with the power entirely out, an eerie, heavy silence took up residence on the block. The weather finally broke, and cool, fresh breezes and stunningly sunny days followed in its wake. People slowly left their homes to traverse the neighborhoods and assess the damage. We were in stellar shape structurally, but it became obvious pretty quickly that our power would take a profoundly long while to be restored.
Safety in Numbers
Driveway Dining
One by one, you heard small, gas-fueled generators tentatively crank up. You saw a few flickering lights swaying in the windows at night, but mostly, there was a vast quiet.
And then it happened. We began to leave our homes and wander the streets. Neighbors who had previously only said "hi" in passing were now eagerly carrying whole conversations. Food sharing became the standard.
With no electricity, our freezers and fridges held massive amounts of food that had to be cooked immediately or lost entirely. Suddenly, propane and coal-fueled grills began to brilliantly light up the dark driveways all down the street. Improvised, sprawling meals were shared across property lines. It was truly amazing to see people collectively cook so many different, wild arrays of foods on open grills. We’re quite an industrious breed when we are forced to be!
A Shared Table, Redefined
When weather inevitably looms in our future, I wish all of you a fundamentally safe harbor while the storms pass. And, when it’s time to finally clean up outside after they leave, I truly hope you take a moment to look around the block and share a meal with your neighbors.
It’s as easy as firing up the grill and knocking on someone’s door. That is the essence of neighborly grace.
From the Memoir to the Kitchen
Inspired by driveway dining and feeding the neighborhood? Discover the Master Blueprint for the ultimate gathering centerpiece: Chuck Wagon Steak Fajitas.
View Chuck Wagon Steak Fajitas in The Vault