Some Like It Bright, Some Like It Dim

It's evening. For the first and only time in the day, everyone is together. Carrying dishes into the dining room to prepare for the evening meal, someone turns the light on. When everything is ready, people begin to gather around the table. Then, someone spots Dad heading for the room. For a moment it's quiet while everyone draws a collective breath. There is always a possibility it won't happen tonight....

But it's inevitable.

Dad enters the room and turns the light down to its lowest setting.

With a release of our breath, we smile at each other companionably. We're eating in the dark again.

"What's this you made for dinner," someone might joke to the cook, "I can't quite see to tell." "Did anyone put napkins on the table?" another might say, "Oh, here...I found it. Sorry, it was a bit dim in my corner." Still another might call across the table, "Hello, is anyone there?" My night vision is a little off tonight." "I think I hear a bat in that corner over there," another might giggle.

Dad smiles back triumphantly. "Anyone can eat," he defends his choice as adding high-class ambiance, "I and my family--we dine."

***

And so I am equipped to plan the perfect Father's Day gift. With these I figure Dad will be able to dine any time of the day or night, while, yeoman like, we can just eat if we wish.

But then again, maybe the extra culture isn't hurting me. I might be invited to meet the President someday, in which case I should surely know how properly to dine.