Friday, November 23 was our appointed day at Clubhouse #3 in Laguna Woods. Mom couldn't capture the very Thanksgiving day so she opted for second best. It was the same banquet room we used for Dad's 90th birthday and one other Thanksgiving a while back. It had the big restaurant size kitchen and all the tables and chairs. We settled for the room.
We also decided to do a reunion with Aunt Sara and Uncle Charley's side of the family who we love and cannot gather with unless there is a wedding or funeral, so we had extra joy to celebrate about. Food was over-plentiful and desserts glared back. A tipsy of wine and appetizers and alot of standing around. By the time we settled into our chairs we piled on obscene amounts of turkey, potato puff, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, vegetables, sausage and peppers, pasta ( two kinds), salad. butternut squash and extras. If I were to rate the best of the best on the main food line I would say potato puff, my gourmet stuffing ( Bobby Flay I bow to you), and the salads. I loved the yam casserole as well. Mom's caponata was the main event at the appetizer table and a famous artichoke dip. Mare's carrot soup in the crockpot was a humongous hit.
The event pulled off by Mare was an event. She decorated in harvest colors and the kitchen was swarming with hands washing and preparing. I counted 34 people but I could be missing some. Not all could be present.
Some of the pics below:
Mom, our matriarch was shuttled over to the clubhouse to oversee the family. Here she is cuddling to her son, Frank, our Bro.
The next wise and wonderful is Aunt Conny, who lives in our lives. My Larry, the honorable Dr. Larry, sits close.
Time to honor the generations in this picture. Uncle Charley, in the middle, who is now inching towards 86 yrs old, still culturally and musically in the zone, an avid enthusiast of critical thinking, and the arts. His constant love of painting keep him forever young and we bow to his genius. To the right, my old and constant cyber friend and brother in laughable crime is Jack Tulanian, cousin Sandy's spouse. Yes, the story goes I knew Jack before Sandy did. They brought forth a precious daughter Amari, bright and beautiful. To the left, is Donna, my baby sis who is forever dancing and on stage whether in a theater or not. Her youthful appearance says there is hope for a Convertino after 50.
Nice pic of three generations. Aunt Sara to the right is the last of the sisters trio. She is into life and all it can offer saying her social calendar is full to the brim! Maria her middle daughter, my cousin stands behind her graciously beautiful daughter Sara. Sara is married with two gorgeous children, Michael (6) and Maddy ( 4). Both children eagerly came to all of us, unknowingly and hugged us. That speaks volumes of how family is prioritized in her parental teachings. Sara announced she is pregnant with her third baby. Yea!
Nadine, a consummate Mom and wife, is recovering from her October back surgery. She is doing well and her son, Tim standing here is making sure she does not overdo. Beautiful boy. Tall like his Dad. Nadine is our precious gem in our family.
The boys, er, uhm, the Men. Attorney Tim Peabody is center, Nadine's hubby, and to the right, Jay Bagnall, Rosanne's sweetheart. Mike Navarro to the left, still surfing and working out and getting younger with Dr. Larry's help.
Here is our Ro. Aunt Sara's daughter, Jay's wife and mother to three of the kids who could not make the event, Erica, Jamie and family and Bren. Rosanne is one of those people who can do anything and make it look easy. She was Mare's right hand in the kitchen.
Cathy my sis center and to the right Appelusa, Jason's longtime GF and Jason , my son, to the left. Appelusa teaches skating and does photography (head shots for young actors) and Jason well, you name it. Artistic endeavors, directing, editing, scriptwriting and recently, architectural renderings for a huge sculpture. All of his aspirations are shooting stars.
Cathy's kids. Dean to the left, home from Chapman University and had just finished his soccer season. Gina, home from freshman year at San Diego State as a coxsain on Crew. She is loving college but can't wait to cook again with Aunt Bettye. Marc, the man is following the same track as Dad, Mike. He is involved with Commercial real estate work. Warms all of our hearts to have them with us together. We are loving their company so much.
Okay, okay. Someone else took this picture of me, Jason and Appel. Here I am flushed from the heat, hair curling infinitum.
The kids table. Nika, my niece on the left, Amari, my cousin next to her ( Sandy and Jack's child) and the far two on the right, Kelly and Matt, Nadine and Tim's kids. Adorable! Nika has a serious bond with Amari and they so love each other.
Marc and Lea. Lea is Mare and Phil's oldest daughter. Jenna could not make it but Councilman-to-be-Matt stopped in for some dinner. I am remiss with a picture of him but check out my past blogs to see him.
Newcomers to my blog! Chris on the left, who is the love of cousin Maria's life, a good man and happy to have him in our family. Jesse on the right is the proud Papa of Maddy, Michael and baby X, Sara's ( Maria's daughter) hubby.
Cousins in a row. Phil Szabo in the background, Mare's husband, then Ro, Mare and Cathy at the stove preparing the food.
Now we are faced with digestive enzymes, naps and slow moving activities to help counter the meal. Maybe the idea of a Black Friday is, lights out! Blackout! However, in its final hour, we gave thanks to all of us with the glorious prayerful words of Phil, those here and departed, especially for JoLynn's Dad passing and Tim's Dad passing, oddly on the same day. I missed a picture with JoLynn, but here is one from a month ago.
JoLynn, Frank's wife is a blessed one in our family. Her compassion, love and courage is exemplary. Frank and Jo came alone as Joey and Katie, Katie and Drew were in Tennessee starting their life and Christy, pregnant with twins, and Tim had another commitment to Tim's Mom.
