Thursday, December 6, 2018

Since Last Week


Where do I start? I got home from the hospital with Sophie last week on Thursday night and left at 4:30 on Friday morning for my first trip to New York City in about eight years, I think. I got a killer deal on two flights -- took Oliver along because he's just a kick-ass kid with a full-time job, finishing high school early and on to University of Arizona in the fall! Here we are bleary-eyed in the plane just before take-off.



We arrived in Newark and were picked up at the airport by my cousin Paula's husband Jim. We spent Friday night with them and their dear daughter Faith, and the next morning they drove us up to my cousin Philip's house so we could finally join all the other cousins and aunts and uncles for the annual Pittule Day celebration. Pittule is a Calabrian specialty -- basically, fried dough that is either sprinkled with sugar or stuffed with anchovies. Both are pictured above.

Here's me taking a stint at the fryer with my cousin Mary:



Here's a few more pictures from the afternoon:





My mom, 80 years old, Aunt Dorothy, 90 years old and Aunt Mary, 87 years old


My cousins Frances and Mary

The whole Famiglia

Matriarchs and Patriarch

Me and my cousin Philip

That's a lot of beautiful family, and I'm grateful for every single one of them and for the opportunity to get together with them, talk and bond and eat delicious food. I'm so glad that Oliver got to experience it as well.

I should end this post here, but you must know that I also went into the city and stayed with two of my oldest friends, Jane and Phil, in their beautiful home on the Upper West Side. They lit candles for the first night of Hanukkah. I also got to see my very oldest friend -- not biologically but from my junior high years and onward -- Audrey.


Friends for 42 years!


On Sunday morning I took a Lyft uptown to visit Sandra, a woman and fellow caregiver whom I've been close friends with for at least six years -- yet have never met. I could have wept when I finally did get to hug her -- and her son and husband. For any of you social media naysayers, I reiterate that these online friendships have proved to be some of the most deep and profound of my life in every single way.




Speaking of profound connections, I also had the pleasure and nearly unspeakable joy of finally getting to meet Rosemarie. I held on to her for an extra beat as well, just so grateful to find this person as beautiful and graceful in real life as she's been to me online.


I think I'll save the rest of my New York City photos for another post. We flew home on Monday night and on Tuesday I started feeling chills and a general lousiness that ballooned into some kind of horrible flu-like thing -- no fever or congestion but damn, I feel like crap. I haven't been sick in so many years, I guess I was due for something or another, so I'm not complaining.

See ya'll later.

18 comments:

  1. This post makes my heart sing.
    Family in all regards. And beautiful.
    Now get well. Rest and hydrate. Rinse. Repeat.
    I purely love you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful visit with Famiglia and friends. So happy to know that you and Oliver and Rosemarie spent some time together!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So many wonderful connections! And NYC!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow. Big experiences. So sorry you’re not feeling well. Rest if you can. Xo

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm glad you and Oliver had a wonderful time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So happy to see you had a wonderful time surrounded by family. Congrats to Oliver on early graduation and college. And hope that Sophie is doing well and you are feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I’m already looking forward to your next visit! Now rest up. Pamper yourself. Lots of liquids. And congrats again to Oliver for getting into his first choice college! You have a wonderful young man there. You’re doing great work mama. I absolutely loved seeing you both.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love, love, love this. Take care of yourself and revel in those memories. XO

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just beautiful! Your family, your trip and your words about profound connections. What a great adventure to share with Oliver, but so sorry about the flu thing - germs are the only thing I hate about travelling. Get well soon xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Clearly the best gene pool I have ever seen!
    No wonder you feel a bit shaky after that whirlwind trip- flying early in the morning would be demanding enough!
    Lovely that you and Rosemary got to meet for a hug and lovely that Oliver , best kid in the universe to my thinking, participating in this once in a lifetime event!
    Get well, you are the strongest person in blogland!

    ReplyDelete
  11. My daughter started UA this past fall and loves it! Tell him to shoot for a dorm that is CENTRALLY located as its a BIG campus!! That or get a bike!! Good luck to him!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Difficult to believe Oliver is finished with high school and off to college in the fall. WHAT?! Beautiful photos from your trip - it's obvious that you had a fabulous time with people you adore and who adore you. Sorry you're feeling poorly = sounds like a real doozy. How do you get rest with your mothering/care-giving tasks?! Friends to the rescue?

    So glad that you got away!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful family, beautiful friends. I'm so glad you got to go.
    Flying is the worst for opportunistic germs. I hope you get to lie down and be looked after til you're recovered. Sometimes being sick is the only break a lady gets!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wait -- Oliver is going to COLLEGE? Can that possibly be true? Am I THAT old? LOL

    This looks like it was an amazing trip. Your family looks wonderful -- I've never heard of Pittule -- and I'm so glad you both got to spend time with them. And needless to say, I'm thrilled you got to meet up with Rosemarie. I still think we need some kind of blogger convention. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. That is a lot of beautiful Family! Congrats on Oliver fast tracking to finish High School early and go on to College here in Arizona, you must be so proud of him! Be Well.

    ReplyDelete
  16. So happy for you! It looks like a trip filled with wonderfulness!!

    ReplyDelete