The day after Thanksgiving was always Mike's favorite day of the year. Absolutely NO eating of leftovers. Early on it was watching Planet of the Apes movies with his brothers and ordering in pizza. In more recent years it was an outing--maybe to Cedar Hill Cemetery or to the Wadsworth Atheneum.
That was just a preliminary sidelight to the main event as far as Mike was concerned. The main event was a trip to Hartford's Franklin Street, once the heart of the Italian section of the city. For Mike, it was pure nostalgia and real comfort food. Nothing says "Thanksgiving" like a salami and provolone grinder* and a bag of chips from Giant Grinder.
Then, on to Modern Pastry Shop for a box of assorted Italian cookies to bring home--or maybe gobble down on the trip back to Vermont.
Life changes. Established traditions change as well. We all have to work around that fact at some point. New traditions come into being and that is not such a bad thing. But we also want to preserve something of our pasts.
The day after Thanksgiving (which was actually very pleasant and not nearly as trying as I made it out to be in my previous post), I left for a trip to Connecticut. I joined Mike's sister and brother and families for dinner at an Italian family restaurant--Roma's in East Hartford, where they make the best eggplant parm I have ever tasted, on Friday night.
On Saturday my sister-in-law and I walked, talked, shopped, took in a movie, had a lovely salmon dinner, drank wine, and just had a good time together. I am sure that Mike was smiling down on my new kick off to the holiday season, although with a tear for the lack of a salami and provolone grinder (especially for it being replaced with eggplant).
And now, a week of diet and fasting and exercise.
*Grinder is New England for sub, hero, hoagie, etc. kind of sandwich.
That was just a preliminary sidelight to the main event as far as Mike was concerned. The main event was a trip to Hartford's Franklin Street, once the heart of the Italian section of the city. For Mike, it was pure nostalgia and real comfort food. Nothing says "Thanksgiving" like a salami and provolone grinder* and a bag of chips from Giant Grinder.
Then, on to Modern Pastry Shop for a box of assorted Italian cookies to bring home--or maybe gobble down on the trip back to Vermont.
Life changes. Established traditions change as well. We all have to work around that fact at some point. New traditions come into being and that is not such a bad thing. But we also want to preserve something of our pasts.
The day after Thanksgiving (which was actually very pleasant and not nearly as trying as I made it out to be in my previous post), I left for a trip to Connecticut. I joined Mike's sister and brother and families for dinner at an Italian family restaurant--Roma's in East Hartford, where they make the best eggplant parm I have ever tasted, on Friday night.
On Saturday my sister-in-law and I walked, talked, shopped, took in a movie, had a lovely salmon dinner, drank wine, and just had a good time together. I am sure that Mike was smiling down on my new kick off to the holiday season, although with a tear for the lack of a salami and provolone grinder (especially for it being replaced with eggplant).
And now, a week of diet and fasting and exercise.
*Grinder is New England for sub, hero, hoagie, etc. kind of sandwich.
Just love all the thanksgiving stories, such a special time, I know enough about America to know that this is a beautiful time of year to go to Vermont....everyone in the movies says so....lol
ReplyDeleteA great kick off to the holiday season. Don't be too hard on yourself with the diet, fasting, and exercise!
ReplyDeleteJust enjoy those new traditions and don't worry about fasting till 2015. That is when we take our scales seriously once more.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful time. Mike would approve, for sure.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day, missing grinder notwithstanding!
ReplyDeleteIt can be difficult to transition to the new traditions. My mom's birthday was Christmas Day and many of the old transitions ended with her passing. It's never been quite the same.
I'm glad you had such a wonderful time. Mike would be happy that you spent the day as you did.
ReplyDeleteEggplant parmigiana is my favorite Italian dish. I don't really care for salami.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of skipping left overs the day after Thanksgiving. Good tradition to begin.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great, nostalgic trip. But ... what do you do with all those leftovers?!?
ReplyDeleteLovely. I'm sure Mike would approve. I am sorry I have been such a bad blog friend. This has been a truly crazy quarter. My oldest started community college but she doesn't drive so between teaching and driving her around I don't have an extra minute. But the quarter is ending and next semester she'll have a more compact schedule, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteNew traditions can be hard to start but it sounds like you had a wonderful weekend, friends and family always make things better and easier. Glad Mike could be there to watch over you!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to hear you talking about Mike. Please share more memories of him.
ReplyDeleteI think I let my traditions go too fast and turn to something new too easily. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful weekend, and the grinder sounds like a magnificent sandwich.
ReplyDeleteNew traditions with Mike's family - he'd approve! I bet there are grinders in Heaven - and cookies, too.
ReplyDeleteThe tradition with Mike sounded marvelous. The new one started with his sister sounds magnificent, too. Cheers to you and yours this holiday season, Olga!
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Traditions can always use a little modifications. It's fabulous that you were able to spend time with your sister-in-law.
ReplyDelete