Appetizers – you better get this party started!
As I mentioned before, Ruth loved a party. She loved the thought of a party, attending a party, planning a party but above all she was happiest when hosting a party. I could tell the size of the party by the size of the truck Chairman Mills sent with the party supplies. And when my parents were having a party everyone was invited. My parents also let me work the parties so by the time I was twelve years of age I could open wine, hook up a beer keg, carry a drink tray and make a mean Manhattan. In general we have lost the art of hosting a party. The word party is now far too often synonymous with words like drunken, loud, obnoxious, etc. The parties my mom threw were fun, exciting, sophisticated and sometimes silly events that kept a large circle of friends close. They were never drunken, embarrassing affairs. Events like her Saint Patrick’s Day Party were not complete unless the room was full of everyone she had spoken to in the month previous. Ruth also believed that the small details made a night special from décor to even ensuring the appetizers were correct for the occasion. She carried this right through her entire life and even had themed pool parties for the grandchildren. When Nanny and Pa brought back lobsters from the east coast she hung fishing nets and lobster traps. She had plastic tablecloths, lobster bibs and east coast music. Nanny even bought plastic lobster so the grandchildren could dive for them in the pool and then ‘we ate their catch.’ These east coast parties were where we were introduced to warm towels. When the grandchildren went back into the pool after dinner, Nanny would run inside and put towels into the dryer. As each grandchild emerged, Nanny or Pa would wrap each one in a warm towel. That’s why I called this book ‘Warm Towels’ because Nanny left everyone feeling they were wrapped in warmth when she was around. Nanny never forgot how fun life could be. Should be. And she was going to do everything she could to make it magical for everyone around her.