This is just a short post. I've been dreadfully busy and have not had the time to transcribe any of my recordings from being with Doc and Marilyn, so I am just posting this short one in order to not look like I have quit posting.
Like a lot of rural Americans, Doc and Marilyn pray before they eat. I've learnt when I am eating with rural Americans not to just begin eating when I sit down at the table. I wait of course until my host or hostess is seated and then I wait for them to either take the first bite, or bow their heads to "bless the food."
"Blessing the food" generally consists of everyone at the table bowing their head and closing their eyes while one of them will offer a prayer of thanks for the food, and asking the Lord to not let any of them get sick from eating it. Well, they don't actually SAY that, but it is inherent in the nature of the prayer. Generally these prayers are mildly poetic or prosaic.
Some of them that I have heard include:
"Thank you Lord for these here vittles. Help us to receive strength and help from them. Amen."
Others get more religious:
"Thank you, Oh Lord for this food we are about to receive. Bless it for our bodies and and bless us for your service. Amen."
Then, there is the American classic, which many American children are taught, and some adults still say with folded hands and closed eyes:
"God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food. Amen."
After praying over the food, then it is ok to "dig in" and resume a free for all at the table.
Earlier this Summer, I was at Doc and Marilyn's for the evening meal. Marilyn had heated up several little plastic containers that had originally contained margarine, or Cool Whip (an American non dairy substitute for whipped cream). Rural Americans save these throwaway containers, and use them to store leftovers, small car parts, or eat from them as cereal bowls or soup bowls.
As Marilyn sat down, I bowed my head, waiting for her or Doc to pray. Doc picked up his fork and began to eat right out of a container of kale.
Marilyn immediately began fussing at him and rebuking him for eating unblessed food.
Doc jammed the food over into one of his cheeks and stuffed some leftover ham slices into his mouth, ignoring her the best he could.
Marilyn felt that he was truly tempting the Lord by doing this and asked what had possessed him to be eating without blessing his food.
Doc looked at me, rolled his eyes and exhaled. Then he said in an exasperated voice, "Marilyn, this is the third time we've had this here food. If the Lord ain't blessed it by NOW, He ain't GOING to."
And he kept on eating.
