Alexander and I take the Jitney out to the Hamptons where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. We arrive early. The bus drops us off in Bridgehampton. While we are waiting to be picked up, I remember that Alexander walked on the bus with a small suitcase and off the bus without it.
I won't describe the scene that follows, but eventually everything gets resolved.
Most years we celebrate Thanksgiving on the Cape. But Adam, my nephew, is hosting this year in his new Hampton house. 19 family members come. We wish there could have been 20, but Sally, my niece, is living in Barcelona this year.
Alexander arrived late last night from Philadelphia.
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| me and alexander |
Jean (with Jim and Jack) and my mom come down from Boston.
And the all-black outfits are purely a coincidence.
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| phyllis, jean, valerie and me |
My mom is happiest being with her kids and grandkids.
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| michael, jack, jason, phyllis, adam, and alexander |
And of course seeing her only great-grandchild, Chloe.
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| Chloe with her uncle Adam |
Aside from the spectacular house and great company, the women are impressed that this year it won't be just the men who will get to relax. My family is generally pretty liberal when it comes to issues of gender — except for the kitchen. But one great hired chef and his three assistants solve the problem. They insure that the meal is cooked to perfection, served impeccably, and then cleaned up.
And the food, oh the food....
There is nothing ordinary about the appetizers. Rack of lamb. Mini burgers. Shrimp. Rolled asparagus with cheese. And tuna tartare tacos. It would have been fine (and completely satisfying) to go straight from the hors d'hoeuvres to dessert.
But we don't.
Along with the Thanksgiving staples of turkey, stuffing (2 kinds), mashed potatoes, yams (2 kinds), and green beans, there is a caesar salad, an excellent octopus carpaccio, and mini grilled cheese sandwiches.
Adam announces that the kid table will be in the kitchen area, and defines kids as 35 and under.
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| jared, jessica, dan, michael, adam, alexander, jack, amanda, chloe |
The grown-ups, I guess, are the over 50's.
Desserts are of course plentiful (pies, cakes, ice-cream, cookies, chocolate moose and glazed bananas).
And as we do every year, we celebrate the birthdays of Alexander (recently turned 24), Adam (about to be 36), and Sally (via Skype, who will soon be 24) with a Carvel (has to be Carvel) ice-cream cake.
Chloe, too, recently turned one, so we now allow her to be part of the birthday celebration.
The ever-thoughtful host deserves a big thank-you. Adam provides the perfect atmosphere of comfort, food, and relaxation. No details are ignored. Right down to the turkey socks he provides to everyone present.
I hope this is a start of a new family tradition — not the socks so much (though they are very nice), but the memorable Thanksgiving in the Hamptons. Thank you Adam.
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