GATHERING PLACE - On the Table

She always serves her mom's banana pudding in a humble but beloved family heirloom.

- LAUREL L. SHANNON

When I whip up a batch of banana pudding from scratch-the way my mom taught me-I serve it in an antique bowl that has been in our family for decades.

The bowl itself is unremarkable. Its surface glaze is the color of custard and is embellished with a large apple. The raised edge of the base is a tad wobbly because multiple generations sharpened kitchen knives upon its surface. The potter's mark, “Watt,” prized among collectors, is still very readable. Some will see only the antique bowl's value, but I see a cherished piece that has been filled with lovingly prepared foods and placed upon family tables for many decades.

Soon after my great-grandma bought the bowl, it became her favorite for its size and versatility. She had eight grandchildren, and she regularly brought the bowl with her to family dinners and reunions. Whenever she arrived cradling it, everyone knew it held something special. Sometimes she'd made a casserole, but more often she'd made a dessert. Despite the bowl's age, there was nothing fragile about it. It withstood the fumbles of three generations of small hands.

"EVERYONE KNEW IT HELD SOMETHING SPECIAL." - LAUREL L. SHANNON