Monday, March 24, 2008
Non-Christmas holidays in New York, for me, have typically been shared with other people’s families. Recently, I’ve spent the holidays with friends families – more specifically, Rob’s family. So for those of us not used to meals with hard-core Italian folks, it can be quite an eye-opening experience.
Just about every domesticated animal, and perhaps a few chipmunks that wandered too close to our dining room table, die for these meals that, yesterday, lasted from 1:30 to 8pm. It all started out with about 6 appetizers (there were 9 of us), then led to the first course of lasagna, meatballs and sausage. That was followed by a petite serving of a half a chicken for each of us along with stuffing, vegetables, and red wine. We were then served with the main course, ham. As if that weren’t enough, we had an ice cream cake, coconut pie, cookies, and brownies served with tea and caramel candies.
The whole experience, I have to say, was delightful. Unlike my family meals that are totally functional – everyone eating one course only to go about their ways. The nine of us sat at the table the entire time and talked about family and what’s going on in each other’s lives with sincere participation. The myriad of courses that seem over-the-top are in fact only to buy the time everyone needed to catch up and bond. In fact, during the 7.5 hour meal, nobody got up from the table except to do dishes or go to the restroom.
After a couple of these meals I have to say that Rob's family probably has the art of the family meal right.
Just about every domesticated animal, and perhaps a few chipmunks that wandered too close to our dining room table, die for these meals that, yesterday, lasted from 1:30 to 8pm. It all started out with about 6 appetizers (there were 9 of us), then led to the first course of lasagna, meatballs and sausage. That was followed by a petite serving of a half a chicken for each of us along with stuffing, vegetables, and red wine. We were then served with the main course, ham. As if that weren’t enough, we had an ice cream cake, coconut pie, cookies, and brownies served with tea and caramel candies.
The whole experience, I have to say, was delightful. Unlike my family meals that are totally functional – everyone eating one course only to go about their ways. The nine of us sat at the table the entire time and talked about family and what’s going on in each other’s lives with sincere participation. The myriad of courses that seem over-the-top are in fact only to buy the time everyone needed to catch up and bond. In fact, during the 7.5 hour meal, nobody got up from the table except to do dishes or go to the restroom.
After a couple of these meals I have to say that Rob's family probably has the art of the family meal right.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Oddly, I don’t remember going out so much in Manhattan when I lived here. Lately, I seem to have so much to do here. . . maybe I just didn’t realize it. Who knows.
It seemed like it’s been a never-ending wave of social things. Monday night a friend’s birthday brought me way up to Westchester for dinner. If you don’t know New York geography, my home in Bay Ridge and Westchester are so far that the respective indigenous people have different languages. It was a long journey back home, and a late night.
I got though the day on Tuesday then went up to Columbia University where my good friend, former colleague, and life coach (it seems) was having myself, Mary and Rachel over for dinner. It’s usually a civilized evening but with his wife and kids in the Cape for Spring break, things spiraled out of control. Before we knew it we were breaking into 100 point wines and dancing in the living room. The rage ended with us pouring out our emotions at 3am. Yes, 3 AM!!! I don’t even do that on the weekends, let along a school night.
Wednesday was rough. Working on three hours of sleep I managed to give a presentation and do a lot of crazy work before boarding the express bus home and immediately falling asleep in my chair. Last night I met up for drinks with Rob. It seemed like the last thing I needed but I was obliged since Rob had a place in the Village to crash at.
The only point to tediously detailing my whereabouts for the last week is that I think it’s all catching up to me. A cold or something worse is coming upon me and tonight I have to go out to dinner in SoHo with friends that are in from London. I really don’t want to go. But how often will I be able to see them?
Uuuuugh.
It seemed like it’s been a never-ending wave of social things. Monday night a friend’s birthday brought me way up to Westchester for dinner. If you don’t know New York geography, my home in Bay Ridge and Westchester are so far that the respective indigenous people have different languages. It was a long journey back home, and a late night.
I got though the day on Tuesday then went up to Columbia University where my good friend, former colleague, and life coach (it seems) was having myself, Mary and Rachel over for dinner. It’s usually a civilized evening but with his wife and kids in the Cape for Spring break, things spiraled out of control. Before we knew it we were breaking into 100 point wines and dancing in the living room. The rage ended with us pouring out our emotions at 3am. Yes, 3 AM!!! I don’t even do that on the weekends, let along a school night.
Wednesday was rough. Working on three hours of sleep I managed to give a presentation and do a lot of crazy work before boarding the express bus home and immediately falling asleep in my chair. Last night I met up for drinks with Rob. It seemed like the last thing I needed but I was obliged since Rob had a place in the Village to crash at.
The only point to tediously detailing my whereabouts for the last week is that I think it’s all catching up to me. A cold or something worse is coming upon me and tonight I have to go out to dinner in SoHo with friends that are in from London. I really don’t want to go. But how often will I be able to see them?
Uuuuugh.
