Chez Rozarie

Mom and Dad love to go to Joe's Diner.  Mom has a high comfort level there.  She knows Johanne, and Adrienne, and both Nick and James.  Dad can have her go sit while he talks to people, telling men to remove their hats, telling Nick how to utilize his time better when cooking, flirting with Johanne and Adrienne, and schooling James on all aspects of the short order process.  Mom sits and makes faces at him while Adrienne brings their coffees over. Mom has either a short stack or 3 pieces of french toast (you already know about the cutlery concerns now happening).  Dad gets eggs and potatoes and white toast.  He only gets meat when someone else is paying (ham slice or sausage).  He wants his coffee to be steaming.  When I sit with them, I share the carafe that I get, and that's not hot enough for Dad. Next to Joe's is Stratford and Surf Beverages, a liquor store owned by a close family friend.  He sponsors Cycle Sundays...the Diner is open...

We went out to dinner tonight, with the family...Casey was certainly missed, and talked about (in a really nice "we miss her" way).  The occasion was my parents' 56th wedding anniversary.  Miah and Meghan were there as well.  Just a small group. Mom kept asking if there was room for the "other group".  We said no, that it was just us tonight.  We wanted an adult dinner this time.  We went to Riverview, on the Housatonic.  Mom sat so she could see the River.  Dad was across from her, and I sat next to her.  She needs help with silverware these days, and can't always figure out things like butter.  It was better I sat next to her, for sure. Mom, when she sat down and got all settled in, checked the view..."Who lives over there?" she asked as she looked across the river to the Devon side, where the houses back onto the water and have nice docks.  The best thing to day is answer her with a name..."Joe", I said, which satisfied her, ...