Creative Response to Do “You Need a Lazy Susan?”

NYT Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/09/t-magazine/lazy-susan-guide.html

To my Grandma, Lazy Susan is not Lazy. She’s not even Susan. To my Grandma, they are known as  餐桌转盘, or "dinner-table turntables" in English. 

Growing up, Lazy Susan held a special place in my heart. Every Chinese New Year, my family would gather around Grandma’s round, circular dining table. Lazy Susan sat at the center, laden with Jiaozi, Chun Juan, catfish and savory peking duck. In Chinese culture, turning Lazy Susan is never a lazy gesture – It's a mark of love and respect for your elders. My siblings and I would gently spin the turntable, ensuring that my grandma had the first pick of each dish.

This short article invoked a sense of nostalgia for my childhood. The intricate designs of volcanic rock, blues and oxidized greens contrast against the plain, slightly stained piece of wood that is my Grandma’s Lazy Susan. In a way, this change reflects my growing up. Much like how a new generation of makers are reinventing the Lazy Susan, I have changed, grown, and reinvented myself over the years. 

Do we really need a Lazy Susan? Perhaps not in a literal sense. But I hope they do make a comeback. Because every time I see the 餐桌转盘, I am reminded of the warm, nurturing love of dinner with my Grandma. In a room full of Vitra, Ladorada, or Ayres, I’d choose my Grandma’s Lazy Susan every single time.