Celebrating 25 Years of Spaghetti
Traditions are funny things. Even though they help give us identity, we often don’t know how they caught on in the first place.
We’re about to head to my son’s house for spaghetti with my granddaughters. Why spaghetti, you ask?
It goes back to 1987. My sister and niece rushed over to join Matt, Megan, Diane, and me for a quick meal before we went Trick-or-Treating. (Trick-or-treating with Megan was a trick. And a treat.) Because it’s quick and easy, we had spaghetti. No other reason.
The next year we did the same thing. We were just about to throw burgers on the grill when Matt complained, “Where’s the spaghetti?”
“What do you mean?” we asked.
“It’s Halloween and we ALWAYS have spaghetti on Halloween.”
So we had spaghetti. Because it was Halloween.
This now marks our 25th year with the tradition.
You’re saying something about the Church of Christ, aren’t you? Or is this just a story about spaghetti? Because I don’t trust you. I think you’re up to something…
I really want to “like” Richard’s response. But I love the tradition and reason. God bless you all with your memories and your fellowship.
Offering up a little prayer for you all. <3
Do the ladies use the same spaghetti drainer-and-bowl that they used the first year ??? You know, the one they used because so-and-so forgot the one they were supposed to use ???
In defense of tradition, tradition continues because it works. The authority that it has comes from the fact that it has worked before, and should work again. I can guarantee you that if everyone gets sick from the spaghetti dinner this year, it won’t be spaghetti next year, that’s for sure… Therefore, tradition has “practical authority”, not “real authority? (???)
And, anyway, the secret is in the sauce…
Wouldn’t that be 24 years? Just sayin’…
Richard – There’s good reason to wonder.
SR – Ha! Well it’s 24 years since the first time. But counting that first time it’s 25.
That’s funny — we’re having spaghetti tonight because it’s easy and easy to clean up (kind of) and all we’re doing is hopping up and down passing out candy. No trick or treating at this house. We aren’t big on tradition at this house — i have no idea what I’ve made in years past.
OK Richard – I’m convinced that Mike had to be tying in the whole church thing. You see, we, the church, are the noodles. To those on the outside, we all look and act alike and sometimes appear to be unmoved. But really, if we stay together long enough, we learn to stick together. These noodles (the church) sometimes get tossed around, maybe even against the wall. The sauce is God’s love poured over us. The noodles get soaked up in this love. And sometimes it’s messy, the love remains (on the plate) – always present. Now, the meatballs. Those meatballs always weigh you down. Their evil. They must be cut up and disposed of – quickly- before they become the center of attention. In the end, the noodles, covered in love, find their place near (kind of) the heart of God. I’M SURE THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MIKE MEANT by the importance of eating spaghetti on this hallowed night.
Nope. It’s not a parable about the church and God’s love.
It’s obvious. This is an attack on our a cappella tradition.
He is claiming that it began because of convenience (“quick and easy”). But then people later insisted that it isn’t just a matter of convenience but of importance. That’s what we (“must” is implied) do!
So years and decades pass, and this “tradition” becomes entrenched.
It couldn’t be clearer. I’m reporting him.
LOL!! How droll, all y’all!!!
I will neither confirm nor deny these conspiracy theories.
But let me say this, sometimes spaghetti just means spaghetti.
It’s shameless PASTAFARIANISM — that’s what it is!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster
Shame on you, Mike Cope. Heretic!
I think Keith is onto something: http://www.venganza.org/about/open-letter/
Oh, sure, “spaghetti.” We know it means “spaghetti.” But “JUST spaghetti?” No way in tarnation.
neopostmodern rhetorical nihilist qb
And we always had tacos on Halloween for the same reasons–it was easy to cook and clean up so we could hit the roads with our kids for trick or treating.
So even though my 16-yr-old didn’t trick-or-treat this year (we figure if you’re old enough to drive yourself, you’re too old to trick-or-treat), after I saw your post yesterday afternoon, I put the chicken I was going to cook back in the fridge. And pulled out the taco stuff. Some traditions should carry on. Thanks, Mike.
All these folks are lookin for deeper meaning–started to bog down as to whether sauce was poured or the pasta immersed in the sauce. However, I’m pretty sure it just says what it means and means what it says.
I’m starting to think this is the most liberal and subversive blog post in the eight year history of preachermike.com.