And Fills the Cup of Every Guest

I realize that most of you already know this, but just in case their email ended up in your spam folder, or you are completely new to the neighborhood and never heard, here is the highlight reel.

Sue Reid and Jon Strandberg open their doors every Thanksgiving and Christmas to anyone in the neighborhood wanting to celebrate with a group of friends and neighbors. Singles, empty nest couples, families, all are welcome.

Two years back I read The Analects of Confucius (in translation) which led me to read some of his poetry. I was reminded of his poem about hospitality when I sat down with Sue and Jon this weekend to talk about their holiday tradition.

Anyone who has been to Jon and Sue’s for one of their holiday celebrations will know there is much more than a single rabbit and a few gourd leaves to be had. However, as in the poem, the couple’s hospitality shines through, independent of the feast.

How Long Have You Had the ‘Open to All’ Policy?

Sue replied they started the first Thanksgiving in 2015, the year they moved in to the neighborhood. It seemed natural to repeat the invitation at Christmas. Seven years later and we have a Burns Lane tradition.

What Motivated You to Open Your Doors?

Sue told me three stories to explain why she and Jon feel strongly about extending their hospitality to the entire neighborhood.

First, Sue described how her parents’ openness and generosity greatly influenced her. In her childhood, not only family, but friends, lost souls, and even employees, shared the family’s meals, both during the holidays, and throughout the year. In Sue’s words, “[I] never quite knew who was going to show up for a meal.”

Second, Sue had been widowed before meeting Jon, and sometimes found herself without family during the holidays. She explained how much easier and more fun it would have been to have a group of neighbors with whom to celebrate and share. She hopes she and Jon’s hospitality will fill that need for others like her in the neighborhood.

Finally, Sue told me that when she and Jon first came to Burns Lane, neighbors who were perfect strangers nonetheless stopped by with well-wishes and invitations. She and Jon were so impressed by the openness and warmth of their new neighbors, they decided in turn to open their home and hearts to the neighborhood.

That first year they had a single guest, with two showing for coffee and dessert afterwards. The next year word had spread, and little-by-little the small gathering became a large event. At its peak before the pandemic, the couple seated 16 around the table, more including after-dinner drop-ins such as myself. (Yummy, yummy pumpkin pie!)

Although the table is crowded, Sue and Jon assure me they have not yet reached capacity.

How do these gatherings work?

Jon and Sue decide on the main course, which they convey in advance to the guests. On the day, everyone else brings a side, or an appetizer, or a dessert, or wine, or… I asked if they’d ever had multiple guests bring the same thing? I imagined a table filled with a roast turkey and 14 cheesecakes.

Jon assured me that hasn’t happened. So far. The only time he remembers having far too much of something was the year he smoked a turducken. Apparently the guests were a bit skeptical of the dish, most of which ended up as leftovers back in the freezer.

For months.

Sue said she believes this gathering offers people an opportunity to make family recipes and keep family traditions alive, even when family isn’t at hand. If you have a cherished cranberry relish recipe, for example, you don’t have to make an entire meal to surround it. Just make the relish and bring it along! (This is for you, Carol. If you are reading this, know we are thinking of you.)

As for leftovers, they generally get distributed back to the guests to take home. Seldom, turducken excepted, do Sue and John have to manage a freezer full of sweet potato casserole.

Details

RSVP to Sue and John by the Thursday before Thanksgiving if you want to join everyone for dinner. No RSVP necessary if you would like to show afterwards for coffee and pie.

Dinner starts at 5:00 p.m.

After dinner guests welcome at 6:30 p.m.

A Brief History of Sue and Jon

Jon, upon learning that Sue, like himself, was originally from Kentucky, asked, “Do you have a strong Kentucky accent?” (His actual question was, “Do you talk funny?”)

Luckily for the neighborhood, and for Jon, Sue explained that she had mostly lost her accent. Would you really have swiped left Jon?

And in return.

As their friendship progressed, Sue learned that Jon was considering retirement, and, like so many of us, wanted to spend it in Williamsburg. Sue hadn’t been here before, and with no family ties in Seattle, she agreed to give it a try. They visited as tourists in 2013 and 2104. In the fateful year of 2015 the couple found and bought the house in which they now live. The newlyweds moved in June of that year, having married just a few days before.

When I asked what brought them to the Burns neighborhood in particular, Sue replied, “Luck, and the grace of God.”

Closing Thoughts From Jon and Sue

“The cresset is lit, the door is open. Please come by for dessert if you can’t come for the meal.”