The Estes "Golden" Family Reunion
Tuesday (continued)
At the cottage (the "enchanted cottage" as I
sometimes call it), we sort the pictures and admire the group shot
enlargements -- I have clearly the BEST group shot picture, I'm so
pleased with it. I decide to take advantage of the good lighting
and well-restedness of the small group in front of me, and begin
collecting my signatures. Rita and Wayne sign first, with Dad
writing his underneath theirs. Rita gives Allison a piece of
paper to practice on so she can see how much space she'll need, but I
assure her there's plenty of mat space and I'm keen for natural
signatures. Allison perfectly writes out her name and
smiles. Whew -- half done!
And then it's another nerve-wracking round of Jenga
between Wayne, Allison and me (Rita again preferring to play observer,
with Dad joining her), and I lose again. Steven appears and takes
away the set to play with it in our room -- after he signs my picture
mat. The rest of us settle into nap-type lying around, which
eventually becomes watching Trading
Spaces on The Learning Channel, and
Wayne explains it to me and Dad (Rita is watching it -- or napping, I'm
not sure which -- in their bedroom). We agree that the choice for
redecorating one room is too extreme for us -- and the husband of the
place, who tries to look not horrified. Then Jennifer shows up,
holding a Wendy's cup, and we realize that the movie car has snacked
before our dinner of... um, in the spirit of the trip, we're not sure
where. But it's an opportunity for Jennifer to sign my picture
mat, and she proudly signs it.
We all break back to our rooms for rest and getting
ready for our mystery dinner, and there is much meandering and
waiting. Steven and I watch a couple of episodes of The Simpsons
in our room, then I go in search of dinner plans, beginning by looking
off our deck and seeing Rita heading up the driveway from the
cottage. Steven and I go outside to find Dad wandering around the
parking lot, and after a while, I check Larry's room where I last saw
Rita standing at their door. There I find most of the crew, with
Alex and Natalie working on a "secret project" for Mom and Dad, and
Allison sleeping on the floor after being ill. We'll leave for
dinner in a bit, no problem-o.
Eventually, we arrive at Ristorante Paoletti for our
big "last dinner together of the trip," and we sit at separate
tables. Jennifer and I join Larry's family, and everyone else is
at the next table. Sadly, there is no Crab Alfredo (like from the
Gaslight Cafe, which I can't stop thinking about... so sweet and savory
and buttery and creamery... mmm...), so I opt for the Mostaccioli alla
Vodka, a meal I can't pronounce, but seems close to the tasty Penne
alla Vodka I used to get at Fabiola's in L.A.
Most of the table opts for my second choice, the Rigatoni Grande ai
Quattro Formaggio e Spinaci (giant rigatoni, stuffed with spinach and
four cheeses), while Larry's is thrilled to see Orechiette on the
menu. "Pasta shaped like little ears," Larry and Debbie explain,
which worries Jen.
I get the review of Ice Age, which wasn't glowing,
but okay, and talk turns to the other dismal movies of the past
year. Again I am forced to defend Moulin Rouge, while no one
defends Shrek. We look over at the "other" table, which seems to
be getting their food much sooner than we are, and Debbie asks Rita,
who's sitting behind her, what she got (it looks kinda like a slice of
dark pie). "Sushi," Rita answers, laughing, and explaining the
fish tastes undercooked. Allison is again not feeling well
(sitting next to the Italian sushi probably didn't help!), and we
return to the cottage for our last evening together for a presentation
to the 'rents. Even though I got a half-order of the penne, I
still bring half back and let others taste it, and it's well received
(one of the comments about the meals was too much sauce and not enough
pasta, while mine had the perfect blend)(and Mom and Dad loved the
salad of many lettuces).
Back at the cottage, the West Coast family present
Mom and Dad with their "special project" present (originally scheduled
for Christmas, Larry notes, but there were delays and this works,
too...). It's a talking photo album! Mom and Dad turn
pages, admiring the pictures, and press a button and hear narrations
from Larry, Debbie, Natalie and Alex, such as "This is Alex at the
Space Needle." Pretty cool! Larry says it comes with a
battery that's supposed to last for a hundred years -- although who's
going to be around to disprove that -- and it should work for the rest
of our lives. Then they tell us that they've put in some of the
pictures we got in the afternoon, and we'll be adding our narrations
tonight. Oh, really? Larry shows us the two recording
buttons on the book, and says when the light comes on, we'll say
whatever the picture calls for.
So Wayne sits with me and Larry, and Larry tells us
he'll set it up, and then we'll each say our name and say Happy
Anniversary. Okay. So he presses the Record buttons
(tricky, since he has to use both hands to press the buttons while
holding the book steady), and says, "This is -- " A slip and a
button gets lifted, cutting off the recording. "Blast it!" and
everyone laughs. Take 2. "Here are your children at your
fiftieth anniversary outing," Larry announces into the little
mike. "Happy Anniversary from -- " He looks at Wayne and says,
"Wayne -- "
Wayne looks at him questioningly.
Larry says, "Blast!" and we fall apart
laughing. "We're using up
your hundred-year battery," he tells Mom and Dad. He plays it
back -- "Here are your children at your fiftieth anniversary
outing. Happy Anniversary from... Wayne... Blast!" -- and
everyone laughs harder, insisting we keep it, but Larry refuses, his
experience assuring us that if he kept every taped mistake, the book
would hardly have any finished messages. Another try or two, and
we complete our message, with Larry announcing, "Here are your children
at your 50th anniversary outing."
We all say, "Happy anniversary!"
Larry says, "from -- "
"Wayne."
"Larry."
"And MARILYN!"
And we all cry, "Happy Anniversary!
YEA!!!"
Applause, and laughter.
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