Growing up, our families were close. Geographically we lived only a few blocks from each other, as did our shared grandparents. So lots of holidays were celebrated together, along with birthdays, dinners, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and everything in-between.
Over the years, life happens and for a long time we didn't see each other. Jean and Ellen maintained their friendship, despite Ellen's move to Tucson. Jodi and I recently began playing WWF, and got together for lunch last year when she and her family were visiting NY.
Today, fate intervenes. After a day on the beach, Ellen invites us to dinner (she and her husband David also have a magnificent home here on the Cape, overlooking Jehu Pond).
Although it's impromptu, the beautiful spread looks like it's been planned for months. Different varieties of cheese. Two kinds of dinner pies from the famed Centerville Pies. Jean's luscious Greek salad. Steamed broccoli. Kasha varnishkas. About ten different desserts from an Italian bakery. And a segmented fruit platter where none of the fruits touch each other (per the request of one unnamed adult).
The night is dominated by laughs and shared memories. Names of people I barely remember. Who got old and who stayed young. Who remained married and who divorced. Who still lives locally and who moved. Even who had an illegitimate child raised secretly by her mother at a time when raising a child alone was not socially acceptable.
Jodi shares photos, including one of my aunt (with Sonny) in the days when "wiglets" were popular.
She also finds a photo of my aunt and mom, around 1965, hanging out in our kitchen.
Now here they are again near a kitchen.
It's probably been close to 40 years since we've all been together. I'm sure my dad is looking down and smiling, happy to see us all enjoying a magical Cape night.
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| jack |
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| my mom, frannie and sonny |
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| first cousins: jean, ellen, jodi, me |
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| the gracious hosts: ellen and david |
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