wine and peanuts

i told a friend about how important wine and peanuts are to me.

now i can't stop thinking about those times....

in all my growing up years, it has been a family tradition to sit down together. after a long day at work (or at school) my father pours 3 glasses of wine, while my little sister and i get out mnm's and honey roasted peanuts (for me), dry roasted peanuts (for my mom and sisters) and cashews (for my dad). my sisters (one of whom is morally against alcohol cause she's awesome like that and one of whom signed a form saying she won't make bad life decisions because she's a cheerleader) usually drink coke or water.

and so, we sit, drink wine and eat peanuts.

the conversation starts out relatively surface -

how was your day?
guess what my preschoolers said today about adam and eve!
i have practice every day this week and my knee hurts again...
i don't understand dante's inferno...

yet, we all know the conversation will turn to much more serious things -

what do you think about homosexuality?
women in office?
why are people such assholes?
how can i ever trust them again?
am i really that bad of a person to deserve such ridicule?
how can this in any way be from God?
i've never seen anything so evil?

many a wine and peanut time has been spent wrestling with issues - theological, philosophical, does my little sister really like that basketball player (NO! - she is adamant about that one), and how can people treat others like that?

the most practical education i've ever gotten has been during the times my family simply sits listening to each other, enjoying wine and peanuts.


i really miss those times. and the biggest comfort i have in life is going back for them. they are a constant. they are a blessing.