Ham

I know D. from work. I do not know her too well, but I know her well enough to recognize that she is the type of person who is meticulous about entertaining. She prides herself on being a gracious hostess. A detail oriented person, D. is the type of hostess that thinks about what serving dishes she will use days in advance of a dinner party.

D. takes her dinner parties seriously. The morning of St. Patrick's day, she fell over her cat and suffered a major fracture in her lower leg/ankle. Nevertheless, she prepared her family's traditional St. Patrick's day dinner, even though she could barely stand.

D. told me one year she was preparing Thanksgiving dinner for her family and friends. One of her guests insisted on bringing something to dinner, although D. was reluctant to let her do so. The menu was carefully planned. D. is not comfortable relinquishing control of the party. She However, D. did not want to alienate her friend, so she told her friend she did not really need anything in particiular and asked her friend what she would like to bring.

"Honey-baked ham," her friend replied.

D. does not traditionally serve ham on Thanksgiving, preferring turkey with a variety of side dishes (her favorite), but acquiesed thinking at least her friend will be happy with ham. If nothing else, there would be left overs for ham sandwiches over the weekend.

D.'s friend asked how many people would be coming to dinner. D. told her eight.

Thanksgiving evening, D.'s friend arrived with a small packet of aluminum foil. D. was a bit perplexed because she was expecting a Honey-baked ham.

"What's that?" D. asked.

"Honey-baked ham," her friend said. "I brought eight slices."