Party at Tommy's!

June 13, 2010

Aunt Jean rode up from West Virginia to see us. I don't think we have been able to visit her for 10 years! She was at Phyllis's when we got there in the morning. She and Phyllis are a fun pair to hang out with. Very funny ladies. Tom, their brother, was agitating them as I am sure he has done since their childhoods. At one point, Tom had agitated Jean to the point she started hollering back at him in West Virginian. She spoke so fast and with such a thick accent I could not understand a word she said to him! I stood with my mouth agape and chuckled to myself.

The kids played in the warm sun while Phyllis did Jean's hair. Falcom, the future hairdresser, was very interested in how the curlers went into his Aunt's hair. I wished she lived closer so that he could practice on her. The two of them would love that. She requested that he learn to sing a special song. I need to remember what that song is...

To honor our visit and Jean's visit, Tommy put on a bar-b-que for us at his place. Because there were so many of us we loaded up in two cars and headed up the highway.

What a treat! Tommy is a fabulous cook and host. He marinated pork and chicken. He roasted peppers and made asparagus. His girlfriend Adelle made a delicious pasta salad! Heaven.

We all enjoyed the sun while the grandma's and pa sat in the shade of the garage. I was playing with Marina when Jean asked me to call Vince (who had run up to the gas station because the light came on during the ride to Tommy's and a grandma couldn't believe it!) to ask him to get some coffee. Seems Tom asked Tommy to make a pot and Tommy made the mistake of saying, "I have decaffeinated _______" (fill in the blank with your favorite delicious coffee brand or drink.)

Mutiny ensued. Understand that the Greears drink coffee all day. Not gourmet coffee. Nothing with foam. Just Maxwell House from their Bunn coffee pots. Often they will add hot water if they feel it is too strong. Jean is more gourmet because she enjoys hazelnut powdered creamer in hers.

Vince, who had been poking holes in the ladies cigarettes behind their backs all day, ignored their requests for a can of coffee to give to Tommy to keep at his house for them. Instead he reprimanded Tommy, "What were you thinking? Why did you mention it? Do you honestly think they would have noticed the difference if you had poured them a cup of decaf?" I was glad to see that I am not the only person who gets reprimanded from Vince for being too truthful.

Dinner came on. It was fantastic. I was enjoying it heartily when Tom came out of the house with slices of brown sandwich bread.

Cultural tip #2: If you are having Midwestern grandparents to your home for dinner, you must provide them with bread. This is regardless of how you feel about carbs. This is regardless of how you feel about the palate of the plate or the balance of the meal. Even if you are serving sushi or curry. Even if you know that the grandparents have just had open heart surgery and you have plenty of other carbs on the menu, YOU MUST provide a bread.

This was Tommy's second major error. He had the beans, but no bread.

"With the kind of money this kid makes, you would think he would buy a decent loaf of bread!" said his father. The grandma's shook their heads in agreement.

After dinner, I taught Jean how to look like she had received an instant face lift.
The day grew even warmer. The kids played on the slip and slide Adelle brought over. The grandparents all took naps. Falcom, Marina, Willie and I created a mini-golf course in the breezeway. Tommy's house is beautiful and it was a peaceful, wonderful day.

Willie had never seen anyone able to sleep with their arms up in the air before. He made me take this picture.


When we arrived back at Phyllis's everyone enjoyed a nice cup of coffee and went to sleep.