So, tell me, if you know, how the silverware that sat so benignly at the sides of the plates for dinner can become the weapons of choice in a silverware war once it’s time to do dishes. It seemed simple enough, after dinner tonight I said to the kids, “I’ll wash if you dry”. I’ll admit that under my breath I might have muttered, “You know I’ll probably wash even if you don’t dry” but they came relatively easily to the galley to dry. Paul, being the responsible, reliable first born stood waiting towel in hand for the onslaught of wet dishes sure to follow.

Before going out today I made a batch of delicious Gluten Free Banana/Chocolate Chip Muffins and last night after dinner I cooked some French bread style buns for sandwiches for our upcoming trip. So in addition to the usual dinner dishes and the desert bowls there were also some large bowls, pans and muffin tins as well. Not daunted we dove in. Even in the largest boats there is limited space and our galley, while expansive by some standards has only a couple of square feet of counter space. Washing and drying and putting away have to happen nearly simultaneously or one runs out of space just part of the way through.

This is what lead to Paul, Nicole and I being in the galley (total footprint less than 12 square ft) at the same time, it does happen, more than you’d think. I was washing, Paul was dutifully drying and Nicole, well Nicole was giggling hysterically as the game of Silverware Drawer Wars unfolded. It goes like this.

I wash and hand Paul three glasses, two plates and a handful of silverware to dry. He proceeds to dry it and hands Nicole one spoon, waiting patiently until she has opened the silverware drawer then he hands her a dried cup. In order to put the cup away Nicole has to close the silverware drawer and move over to the where the cups are stored. She snorts, but puts away the spoon and closes the drawer, seeing that he has 2 more cups and anticipating run on dry cups she opens the cupboard puts away the one cup and turns expectantly… Paul hands her two dry forks and a dry butter knife.

The snort is more audible this time, longer in length too, more of an expelling of the entire breath. “Paaauul she say”, already a bit exasperated. Paul, continues to hold out the forks and knife expectantly, he knows her well. She closes the cupboard opens the silverware drawer and reaches for the forks and knife. The bait taken Paul pounces.

Without missing a beat Paul hands Nicole a plate and another dry glass. Now she has a real dilemma. There’s no place to put the plate and the glass on “her side” of the galley. If she lays them on the open silverware drawer she’ll have a free hand to open the cupboard but she can’t reach the upper or lower cabinets without first closing the silverware drawer. She can close the drawer with the plate and the glass in each hand but she then she can’t open the cabinets to put them away.

And so.. the game continues, Paul increasingly challenging Nicole by withholding just the item that would obviously be the next choice to put away. Handing her the most difficult measuring cup or muffin tin and clobbing up the efficiency in the most obnoxious way, sending us all into fits of laughter. Welcome to the silverware drawer wars.