Blessings and a trip to the Old Country

Chocolate babka (from New York) for dessert, now chocolate babka for breakfast, and a fun family gathering at my house last night where the conversation, of course, turned to the Seinfeld chocolate babka episode.

It was our post-Hanukkah gathering and thanks to Sam, Diane and David for bringing the dessert. We exchanged small presents and had dinner, giving me reason to use my mother's silver and the embroidered tablecloth bought by my parents in Portugal. Katie, a specialist in setting a nice table, gave me a choice of ceramic napkin holders with these words written on them: love, joy, blessings, abundance and peace.

I chose blessings.

Today we are heading to the Old Country to see "On the Town," preceded by dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner, home of the singing waitstaff.

The last time I wrote that I was in the Old Country, some people thought I meant Ireland.


I was happy to see this heading of a section in the menu at the Lone Wolf in Amherst offering latkes, bagels and blintzes supporting my point of view.

"From the Old Country...well, New York."

Well, must go get my act together or we're not going to make it for dinner.