A family Christmas lunch...in January

Monday morning: Sitting in Michael's beautiful Manhatten apt with a view downtown. I've just finished lunch with Soo who popped by and now watching 'Reality Bites' on HBO 'movies on demand'.....by chance, because honestly, I have no idea how to navigate cable. Ale is off visiting 'The Guggenheim' while I babysit one sick little Sofia. It's the most beautiful winter day outside - sunshine, blue skies, scarf kinda weather. Ale's tag-teaming me in an hour so I can get out. Yay!

With Michael in his apartment

Sunday. 14 of us met at Perkin's for breakfast - a restaurant on the interstate on the way to Easton, Pennsylvania. My favourite menu choice was something called 'Twenty something blah blah' which included 3 eggs, 4 pancakes, 4 sausages and 9 other pieces made up of biscuits & gravy, bacon etc to get us to the big 2....0. God Bless America!



 

Lunch started around 3pm which resembled an event incredibly reminiscent of Christmas. 16 around the table. 4 hours of eating. And Sofia even scored some lovely pressies! Thank you Lisa and Brigitte. Brava to Lisa for single handedly feeding the crowd. Yury for bringing the Fosters. Mike for reminding us the US of A truly is the best at everything. All the kids for looking after Sofia and Peter for the strength to drive us back home. The dollhouse was amazing!
All in all, one of the most fun family post Chrissy dinners I've ever had.

Outside my direct family, the old saying of 'Thank God you can choose your friends' has always rung true but it must be said that being part of an Italian family truly is an incredible experience. Relatives pop up all over the place. You're welcomed. You're fed. You're loved. How you're related is irrelevant. You're family. Punto. Such a lovely feeling :).