Often when reading of ages past I’ve noticed that grown-ups used to know how to truly have fun. Before the waltz was invented, everyone used to dance together in great circles, young and old alike. They used to play games that involved everyone’s participation and imagination, throwing together impromptu plays and acting out charades. And once, the adults could even be counted on to join in a romp through the house playing sardines– can you imagine?!  Yes, grown folk used to do these wonderful, joyful things.

But what are you likely to find if you go to a party for adults today? Only food and drink, and talk on the safest of topics (of which there are very few these days). If you’re especially unfortunate, a television might be on broadcasting the incessant noise of a professional sporting event while you try to politely attend to your neighbor’s musings on the teams’ season thus far.

How getting inebriated and chomping down chips and dip in a room full of noise is supposed to be a celebration of anything – except gluttony if you engage in it with the appropriate gusto – I have never understood. Don’t get me wrong, I entirely agree that food and drink are foundational to celebrations; all through history we have had feasts with our fests, but you’ve seldom heard of a fest centered ‘round a fast.

But where is the fun?  What are the things we do that make these events different from other days when we happen to share our meals with others? Well I have some ideas about that after going to Nashville this past weekend.

The folks at the Center for Faith and Culture threw a little celebration for our dear friends Tolkien and Lewis, who were themselves unable to attend, though I’m sure they were with us in spirit. Had I been put in charge of such an event I might have labeled it a symposium or a conference or some such boring title as that. But not the folks at Aquinas College– no, they knew what they were about.

It was a Celebration, and oh what a happy time it was. The food was modest for it wasn’t the point. Of drink there was none but water and yet everywhere faces were smiling, conversations went on earnestly between the speeches and laughter could be heard. It was indeed a gathering of friends, (most of whom had never even known of each others’ existence previously) for the purpose of celebrating great men.

So the next time I throw a party to show my pleasure that a dear one has advanced another year on this orb, perhaps I will be bold enough to laud him with a speech, recount some of his personal history, or recite a poem in his honor.  I will invite the other guests to do so as well and we will for once properly celebrate our fellow. And if they won’t rise to the occasion?  Well then we shall have a romp of sardines at least!