A month ago when you looked at my summer calendar you would have noticed that not a lot of days had been scheduled. There was a friend in for a long weekend, a weekly dance class, a swim class, a baby due in July, and a beach trip at the end of summer. The rest of the days were going to be filled in spontaneously with “what do you feel like doing today” fun. Well, since the day school let out (and actually just before) our summer has been a whirlwind.
My dear friend, Nora, who was due July 4th had her baby 3 weeks early. Yes, the last day of school. So exciting!!! My old dear friend from high school, CB, was coming in for a long weekend and we were going to baseball games, the zoo, the National monuments, The Monkees concert, and then I was dropping her at the Baltimore Airport Monday morning where I continued my drive up to Boston to see the new baby and as my son is calling her his “new girlfriend”.
Once in Boston we went by Fenway and Bug insisted on buying ‘Fia a pink Red Sox baseball- I should mention here my son is obsessed with Red Sox Baseball- with his own allowance money.We saw the beautiful baby girl the next morning. She is stunning. And I am a firm believer that all babies are not cute, especially new ones, so I tell you honestly, this baby is beautiful. It was fantastic to see Nora and Jason and meet baby.
We drove home Wednesday, much to my son’s disappointment. He loves Boston.
On Thursday, I found out a Boston friend had passed away. I was broken hearted. It was sudden. And I knew I had to be in Boston for the funeral, not only for my own goodbyes but to be there for his best friend. I have a lot of happy memories of Rajiv, laughing, getting into mischief, eating, trolling around and for cute boys together, “stalking” Tom Brady when he moved into his Comm Ave house (we would take the most inconveinent route just so we could walk past his house for a glimpse- never got one). I was also angry. We were supposed to meet up with him at the end of summer (yes part of the previously mention beach vacation) and he was only half way through the Martha Stewart Living subscription I had sent him, per his request. I was angry I didn’t have one more day of laughing and mischief.
My husband had BBQ Battle in DC Friday night- Sunday night, where he stays in town and works around the clock competing and vending in BBQ. They took 2nd place in America’s Best Sauce, and brought home a trophy!

Barely glancing at the trophy and definitely not getting enough rest we piled up and were off to Boston early Monday morning. My husband and son were going along to drive with me, so I wouldn’t be alone on the drive, but I really wouldn’t be seeing them again until Wednesday. We arrived and checked into our hotel. I directly went to my friend’s house (with Apple Cake in hand) for dinner and conversation. I got to meet one of Rajiv’s friends from years ago when he was fresh out of college, Janet. We ate a dynamite dinner, which you do at Becky’s house every time. (I have mentioned her before in a post from Arubula’s Kitchen) It was a night of light conversation, catching up, bonding, and preparing ourselves for the day ahead.nice

See a future blogpost for what we ate!