So my New England journey draws to it's (unexpectedly late) end and I am sitting in the Continental Lounge in Newark airport waiting for my flight home (which is delayed slightly - typical).
Work was full of unexpected surprises, but we got through our meetings just fine (there's a surprising amount of work that goes into building new toys) and there was even some time at the end to take a couple of colleagues to Durgin Park near Faneuil Hall in Boston.
I haven't been there in years (since before my teens), and my US co-workers laughed when I said I wanted to go, but it is a family tradition as the place that my mom and dad would take us to whenever we were in or driving through Boston. It's place in the hierarchy of favorite and storied family restaurants is paramount.
As I sat contemplating my lobster in their now woefully empty dining room (it trades almost entirely on reputation now), I was hit hard by the realization that now it was I who would be bringing my daughter to favorite family restaurants. That family traditions were now something that I would get to influence rather than have dictated to me.
It made me feel pensive and melancholy, despite the presence and joy of my co-workers at the new experience, and it made me miss my dad. I wished I was ten again and that he was there to show me how to properly clean a steamer or dismantle a lobster rather than me being the one to show my co-workers those things.
Fortunately, the food is still decent, even if the crowds have abandoned it, and nothing can shake me out of a reverie like two lobsters.
So yes. Two 1 pound lobsters later, I left the restaurant completely sated. And I wasn't the only one.
My co-worker, Wayne, ordered the 32 ounce prime rib, and after polishing off the last, tender, crimson shard of meat, pronounced it, as only he could, "Reeeeaaaaaally delicious!"
Due to my need to stay an extra day through Friday, I decided to take an extra day and drive up to Arrowsic to visit Roz and the Maine Fam!
As it turns out, my timing was impeccable as it was Roz's birthday weekend.
Fortunately for me, it was Roz who gave me the gifts with two delicious lobsters greeting me when I walked into the door.
She sure does know what I like! It was quite embarrassing that I didn't have anything for her, but I'll take lobster regardless of how much guilt is attached. THAT is how much I love those little critters.
Saturday morning involved me driving my own car again and running some errands with Roz and the afternoon was mainly hanging out at the house just relaxing.
The main event was Roz's birthday dinner at the Pieh's with everyone in the picture you see above and then some (mainly Gerry and me who are un-pictured). There was 7-Layer Dip, Zucchini Crust Pizza, Canneloni and little children to play with. There was even ice cream cake and present opening.
The evening was over much to soon, however, and before I knew it, I was back in Arrowsic getting repacked to head back to Hong Kong. With an 11:40 out of Logan, it was an early night and an early morning rush down 95 to Boston.
However, GPS made the drive go well, and I was there early enough to make it on the 9:35 AM out of Logan which, because my original flight was delayed, would make sure I would make it home even if my bags don't.
The great thing about catching the earlier flight was that a call to Jack made sure that I had a lunch partner at the airport and didn't have to eat alone.
It's been a long trip full of work, but also unexpectedly full of family and found time.
It's been a great preview for the fun to be had over the Christmas season, and I can't wait to get home to work towards the holiday season.
8 comments:
John
I'm tired just reading this, so I can't imagine the exhausted package that you will present to the birthday girl when you stager in the door tomorrow!
We all share your concern about the toy business (or ANY business!!), but love your ability to touch all the bases.
I am GREATLY looking forward to my Tsien Christmas! It will be my first overseas that hasn't been in Vietnam.
Durgin Park has now also become part of the Koo Clan's tradition -- at least, the strand of the Koo Clan that descends from me -- we took the kids to Durgin Park, not last summer, but the summer previous -- they LOVED it. What i thought would be MY plate of steamers, ended up being divvied up amongst 3 other greedy little mouths, with scant few ending up in mine. We also had lobster and indian pudding and everything else we love there -- and boy, were we replete when we staggered out.
The same thought struck me then -- that while Durgin Park had figured so large in our traditions with Dad, now, it is I who will be passing on those traditions, and with them, memories for our children. The baton has been passed. What a wonderful way to keep Daddy alive for all of us.
They still bring up that meal in conversation, and so i know that we'll go back again when we can, to build another layer onto that tradition.
Another "Dad" or "Gung Gung" food memory today -- Joycie sauteed up a plate of 'taku cai' -- that funny, flower shaped Shanghainese vegetable that we make with bits of Chinese ham -- and when she laid it on the table, Sam immediately said "Oh Mommy, you love this vegetable -- it was Gung Gung's favorite -- and mine, too!" And proceeded to gobble up a large portion.
Both the memory and the vegetables tasted sweet going down.
Joy
And Roz -- we hope you had a very happy birthday celebration -- our very best wishes for a lovely year to come.
Joy
Happy Birthday, Margaret!
And congrats to both of you who made it through that first year. Three cheers!
xoe
John, you are amazing! What a great blog telling all about your week and weekend. You must have been tired enough after this last heroic effort to sleep on the way home!
I especially love Joy's response about Durgin Park and both of you connecting it right back to memories of your dad. Sweet and sad nostalgia all at once.
Happy Birthday, Margaret, even though it's past your birthday now in HK. I've been thinking of you all day. Each time I wrote the date on plans or comments for kids, I said a silent "HB, M!!" :-)
Loved the time with you, John! XXOO
yummy lobsters! I hope she saved a couple for herself too
Nice lobsters. I like that area in Boston also. Damn, I miss the states. Happy belated birthday dear Margaret.
zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè
祝 你 生日 快乐
Durgin Park!THE Durgin Park? I asked myself when I saw the picture. I thought John lived in Hong Kong! So I read on. No school today (I only teach on Tuesdays) so I have taken the day "off"! I read Jack's blog and Barby's blog and now it's time to catch up with Margaret for the first time since last summer! But no, it's all about Durgin Park!
Uncle Ruston used to come to eye doctor apts. in Boston when I was a freshman and sophmore at Wheelock College. He and Mary would take us to Durgin Park for dinner! The first time, fall of my freshman year...1962, to be exact, he ordered scotch on the rocks and oysters on the half shell for Maddi and me. Not just one scotch on the rocks...we got home an hour after curfew and when he wanted to come in and "explain" why we were late to the house mother, Maddi and I told him to stay in the cab! We were all pretty drunk, but I did learn I loved oysters. Ruston thought I should know about them so when "a Harvard man asks you out and asks if you'd like oysters on the half shell, you can say'why yes, that would be lovely' or 'no thank you, I don't care for them'" The next time we went he made us have escargo and Mary mistakingly let hers fly across the room spewing garlic butter over the guests and hitting the flocked red wall paper on the other side of the room! When Maddi and I were asked for ID, Mary put her hands on her hips and said, "They teach out in Newton! They certainly aught to be 21!" and that was that...bring on the scotches! Manners were not high on the priority list for me at Durgin Park! I think it was prime rib that we had, but honestly, I wouldn't remember!
But John, I think I'd be pretty meloncholy too if I went back today.....thanks for igniting a favorite memory of dear old Uncle Ruston and Aunt Mary!
Now back to your blog...I'm sure I'll find Margaret in there somwhere! (tee hee)
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