the importance of family

This weekend saw a flurry of activity as I waved farewell to the great city of New York and headed to, well, the great city of Boston for family-filled weekend.  I had not seen my entire family together for about a year and a half (thank you, first great snowstorm of this past winter for making the roads inhospitable to vehicles), so the idea of having 12 people packed like sardines into a small apartment didn't even seem to phase me.  Add to that the fact that the family would be meeting Grrtrude for the first time and Adam's boo Rachel was meeting folks for the first time (the phrase baptism by fire comes to mind), it was bound to be the best time ever.  Not to mention that the apartment we were in, which belongs to my 96 year old grandmother, looks like it is a time capsule set to 1967.  Seriously, the amount of old/vintage/antique things in that apartment could make any hipster want to break down and cry.  

Family time was, well, entertaining!  We talked loudly, we ate, we drank, and we even had to go on a dog hunt, as Grrtrude did a vanishing act after dinner (she just hung out on the second floor with the retirees - grandma lives on the third floor).  The food was a mix of Chinese and Bertucci's, which I hesitate to call Italian food...most Italian's will know what I am talking about, for sure.  There was so much commotion around the table it was hard to stay focused on any one conversation for more than two minutes, but the meal passed without issue (after a slight grace kerfuffle, but that is neither here nor there).  

After lunch, the Nicolazzo's packed up into the car and shipped out to the cemetery to see grandpa's grave site.  It has been about three and a half years since his death and the first time I have seen his grave site in about two years, so it was important for us to all go as a family.  Grandma admittedly still gets a bit worked up by it all, but I think having us all there gave her some semblance of strength.  We hung out there for a while talking and doing some minor gardening (Aunt Shirley got a bit too zealous with the weeding and ripped up a flower plant, which was placed back nicely with the rest of them) and then all carted back to the apartment for some family photos (see below).  

 After family time, Rachel, Adam, and I headed off to see an old college buddy of Adam's who had just finished the bar.  We went to a great little restaurant called Kitchen on Common (more on this in a later post) and had a terrific meal!  They specialize in local and fresh food, so everything was delicious, especially eh beet and goat cheese salad I dove into with gusto for a starter!  The place was also a BYOB restaurant, so we bought a bottle of wine at the shop next door after an impromptu tasting of some blush wines (nothing to write home about, so we went for a red).  After a nice dinner and some good ice cream (thanks, Rachel!), we went to our hotel (Doubletree cookies = dynamite) for a night of sleep (in a king size bed, no less) and woke up for brunch with Mom, who was also meeting Rachel for the first time.  We found a dog-friendly joint in Central Square that served terrific food and once we moved our table into the shade (thereby setting a trend for future diners, a-thank you), we were very happy campers indeed.  With full bellies, we dropped Adam and Rachel off at a park and Mom, Grrtrude and I headed up to New Hampshire.  

I swear, I am not sure what it is, but every single time I see the "Welcome - Bienvenue to New Hampshire - Live Free or Die" I always feel so calm.  I am not one to feel the need to live in NH in the near future (sorry Mom - been there, done that), but it always just feels like home to me.  Not to mention, the sign is just priceless for two very specific reasons, namely:

(1) We have French on our sign despite the fact that our border with Canada is maybe 500 feet at best.  Hyperbole?  Yes.  But seriously - no one even lives up there!  It is such a silly thing to have French on our sign, aside from the fact that it provides for endless humor and speculation (who got that one pushed through the state legislature?), and

(2) Our state motto is just horrendous/hilarious.  I always feel like it should have some sort of emphatic word on the end, like motherf*cker, as*hole, or damn it!  I also feel like our sign should have a watermarked photo of Chuck Norris or Bruce Willis (maybe both?).  I am not sure what this all would do for state tourism, but I have a hard time thinking it would drive our numbers down.  I mean, come on - we are so kind to the French!  

But I digress...

The day included an afternoon ride (that kicked my butt - dang these hills are steep and long!), a great dinner, and a nice evening walk with Mom and Grrtrude, who met two canine buddies along the way.  It just feels so good to be back in the country!  The shade dappled roads, the windy streets, the pine and evergreen trees, and the way the breeze feels are just all so different from everywhere else I have been, as if it is all so...familiar.  Like I said, not interested in living here, but I am enjoying loving here.  

My computer is being fussy, as is my camera (needs new batteries), so you will have to wait for some photos and certain blogposts - for now, please bask in the glory that is a Nicolazzo Family Reunion in photographic form...

aunt anita making faces (aunt shirley in the background) and me drinking - she was probably in a heated yankees/red sox discussion with uncle jim (notice her t-shirt)

i was so hungry, i was apparently interested in what was on adam's plate, too

grandma - 96 and still stealin' years! and yes, the "i'm italian" sticker is so we didn't confuse her eating italian food with the rest of us who were eating chinese food...she is still quick with a joke, that one. 

grandma and her eldest child aunt mary, who conveniently lives right next door

adam was excited to open his secret santa present, even if it was a bit late.  a bow was also made out of some of his wrapping - nice!

family + partner photo time!  rachel and adam are standing in the back; in front of them is grandma; next to her on the right is mike (son of anita and tony) and to her left is aunt shirley; then it is aunt mary, aunt anita, me, robin, robin's daughter aubrey (who is dating mike), and grrtrude the dog.  missing are uncle tony (butch) and uncle jim.