Katie Can Do It!

Okay. Um. Maybe she can’t. Looking this glamorous takes a lot of work. Nah, we were hijacked by the most amazing and wonderful parents aside from our own — oh that’s right I can’t tell you who they are as their daughter is private. But I can tell you that she is a friend of Kelly’s who has been called “Aerin” in Kelly’s blog and she and her dad are from the same small town in Western Pennsylvania that my mom is. The one that I mentioned when I made the beet tart.

And no, Kelly did not meet her in this town, she met her in New York City, sitting across or next to each other in one of those hedge fund thingies that everyone’s been talking about for the last couple of years. All I know about hedge funds is that they gave Kelly one of her most fabulous and lovely friends and one of my favorite people. I’m like a wanna-be friend. She has admired a ring that I got for pushing Meredith out of my yahoo and I have every intention of giving it to her if I kick the bucket before she does. Kelly thinks I’m mad, but hey that’s how I roll. And it’s how friggin’ cool “Aerin” is.

So, her folks. Okay “Aerin” who is apparently afraid of sharks in pools like my freaky sister is one of those people who you can’t help but stare at. She’s killer gorgeous, with big brown eyes, luscious dark hair, and a ridiculously fit, tan and skinny tall body. She’s Italian, which means her real name is most certainly not “Aerin” but we can all dream can’t we? She’s got the cutest dimple when she smiles which is often and has this way of talking out the side of her mouth that makes you feel like you have finally arrived amonst the in-crowd. That she would laugh out loud and long at my description of her, since she is from one helluva small ass, past its prime Western Pennsylvanian town is also part of her charm. Now we need to add her folks to the list of her charms.

It’s so fun, with such a big personality, someone whose light you enjoy basking in, to see where that star fell from. And I was not disappointed. Aerin shares her mom’s beauty and her dad’s smart eyes. Her mom has the similar side smile and dimple and the quick and easy laugh. Her dad is a straight talker, retired Air Force man, and has all the confidence that such a life inspires, oh except for a mischievious sparkle in his eyes. Such a delight. Their house is perfection. As we all (Mom, Kelly and I) said as we drove out of town, “we would all happily move right in.” Perfectly decorated and perfectly tidy. And they were sweet, easy and happy people to spend an afternoon with. Sipping iced tea in a breezy spot under the trees, the children playing with chalk on the pavement as we talked about Aerin’s upcoming wedding and just the sweet little details of life.

Mom and I separately heard the train whistles in the not so distance and were reminded of my grandparents and her parents. The town they shared their lives in, and it was magical to have a home we could be welcomed to in such a special place. Aerin’s mom IS Italian, so if we thought coming to visit during a non-eating time would mean we wouldn’t be eating, we were sorely mistaken. She made us the perfect summer feast. A chicken salad casserole (really really good!) and a fresh green salad with yummy fruit. I ate everything on my plate and that is not something I every truly do. And then, um, scrumptious dessert! Peach cheesecake pie. I’m still full.

So. I’m sorry I didn’t make the soup. After we left Aerin’s parents we went out to see the house my grandpa grew up in, the hollow we went for walks in, the cemetery to visit my grandparents and aunts and uncles graves, and leave stones on the headstones. We drove past the church my mom got married in, the walk on Thiel College where my grandpa proposed to my grandma, the house my Grandma Breck moved into as a widower and my Aunt Emily and Uncle Don’s house. All the stops! We got home around 10 pm. Tired but full of fun and adventure. I won’t even detail the last two days we spent in Pittsburgh with my mom’s brother and his family, but it was magical too. These summer visits to Cleveland are the best rejuvenating vacations. I pray they keep happening for many many years to come.

Amen!