Stevens Pennant=At Home

I just love Friday nights at our house.  Beginning our “Friday Night” tradition was one of the smartest things Nyel and I ever did.  I’m not exactly sure how we came up with the idea, but I do remember that I felt strongly that the house needed (yes, needed) lots of people within its walls.  Hosting House Concerts once a month or so didn’t seem adequate.

After all, my mother was the youngest of seven children, all raised here and all of them were outgoing and gregarious.  Many are the family stories about Sue bringing home all the boys in the neighborhood and teaching them how to cook when she was only six or seven. Or Mona, inviting the preacher and his wife to tea which came as a great surprise to Mama.

Lamps Are Lighted!

In the years my folks lived here — 1972- 1995 — their Christmas parties were “infamous” — to the point that people Mom and Dad didn’t even know complained that they hadn’t received an invitation.  Plus both of my folks loved to entertain — there were card parties on a regular basis and house guests from afar at almost any time of year.

So, when we were finally “settled in,” we came up with the idea of inviting our friends to “come on over any Friday night from five to seven.  You bring an appetizer, we’ll supply the drinks.  And, once you’ve been invited, you are always welcome — come if you can; don’t worry about it if you can’t make it.”  We never know who will be here, what mixture of personalities we might have, and what topics of conversation will pop up.

York Roses in The Silver Bowl

Since the first January 7, 2000 we’ve not missed a single Friday except for the 53 that we were “dark” during the Covid years.  We’ve had as many as 23 people gathered in our library and as few as 2, but usually it’s a comfortable 8 to 10 folks.  People call it a “soiree” or a “salon” or a “gathering” or a “get together.”  Nyel and I just referred to it as “Friday Night.”

In the year that Nyel has been gone, I truly think it’s Friday Nights that have kept me on an even keel.  Laughing, talking, sharing the latest “news” with friends and neighbors is a high point each week.  I have thought more than once that starting our Friday Night tradition was the smartest thing we ever did!  Long may it continue!