I Dunno, What Do You Want To Do?

It's been a little while, but I want to keep this going. So I'm going to kick this back off with an incident that happens nearly every time the Queen's family gets together for a meal. Now, don't get me wrong. We all fall into the "I dunno, what do you wanna do?" routine occasionally, but not usually to this extent. We joke about it before someone decides, but it gets crazy with her crew.

The trouble starts because everyone seems to be so darn accommodating. This isn't a bad thing..except when it comes to dinner. You know, someone has to want to do it, and that someone is usually the oldest or the one "in charge." I would even defer to someone with familial authority. Given that I'm an in-law, I defer to them since it isn't really my place to take an authoritative position.

So there is an announcement: food is ready. There is a grand pause before the children are shuffled in to be served first. When it is the adults' turn, insert another grand pause. Ladies first is the expected norm, but neither her mother nor her grandmother want to go first. Her grandfather won't go, and her father normally doesn't eat at all. The Queen looks at me and says "go ahead, because her brother also won't go until someone else goes. Her sister-in-law usually goes first and I usually go next. It's a bit awkward every time, but I'm used to it by now. Eventually, after much hemming and hawing over who goes next, everyone gets set with food.

Of course, it's only fair to mention that her grandmother has a considerable amount of difficulty sitting down to eat. She feels the hostess responsibilities unceasingly throughout the meal and asks constantly if anyone needs anything else or any more to drink, etc. That's why she doesn't ever go first.

Now, granted that only happens in a buffet style setup. When we're all sitting already and food is passed around, the pause is briefer, but usually someone wants someone else to "start something." Fortunately, we have the children so they usually get whatever it is first which gets passed around the table from there.

Then comes dessert. This happens regardless of how the meal is setup. There is always something tasty waiting for the end of the meal, but getting someone to accept the Queen's grandmother's insistent requests of someone taking dessert is usually met with the Queen nudging me to take something, since no one else will accept her offer until someone else does first. Once I take something, it goes around.

Now, I'm not complaining at all. This setup is far preferable to the "ravenous wolves" scenario of the announcement of food followed by a stampede. I'm also sure everyone out there has their own tales that mirror some aspects of this. Once the awkwardness is past, it's all very amusing to me.

You want dessert?
I dunno, do you want dessert?
Honey, are you ready for dessert?
Mmph.
Can I get you anything else?
Um.
Anyone else ready for some dessert?
I'm waiting for my food to settle.
Someone has to eat some of this.