starry night

Starry, Starry night. A Perfect night
It was Doug’s birthday. It was hard to believe he was just a kid in college when he and Kelly had a blind date. And now, after 27 years of marriage, my most favorite son-in-law is 50!
On my birthday he told me that 70 was the new fifty. Right back at you–50 is the new 30.
His mom and dad, Ruth and Bob, had planned a surprise party for him. It was to be held at Maria’s, an Italian restaurant second to none. Not only did the "kids" grow up going to Maria’s, so did I. My sister and I were just kids, and we would make our Friday or Saturday night trips to Maria’s with our folks.
The place would just be packed-waiting for a table. Then we would be packed into tables so close together, you couldn’t get out. No one cared.
At Maria’s you know you will get good service, and excellent food. And if you like something, or don’t, you can just walk into the kitchen and talk to Mama Maria’s family, that has kept the tradition going.
This is not a commercial for Maria’s. I just want to give you a picture of how it was on that night.
We had to be there earlier for the surprise (it worked; he was surprised). The place is so busy we had to park a few blocks away. As we walked, I commented on how beautiful the night was-crisp, bright and loaded with stars. "Starry, starry night.", I sang to myself.
You know how they say, the wine was flowing-well, not too much, but enough to toast. Toast to Doug’s birthday, to his best buddies, whose friendships have survived miles and different life directions. And to us all.
The special salad was special, as always. The fennel seeds were almost jumping out of the sausage, the meatballs swimming in sugo (sauce to us non-Italians)
Even the cake was good, if I do say so myself. Ruth asked me to make my mom’s Texas Sheet Cake, which I was happy to do.
There were 25 sitting at the long dinner table. I was about in the middle, talking and laughing and not paying too much attention to anything else. Then I glanced down to the end of the table. Sitting together around the end were my kids, and their kids and their kids’ fiancees. s I took a breath. They were all here. Together.
Outside, before going our separate ways, we had our hugs and kisses. And "I love you, it was a great evening."
Then my daughter said, "Do you realize we were all together? It was–it was indescribable."
I knew it was a nice evening. But I had almost let the significance pass me by. We were all together. We were happy. It was a perfect night.
When you get one of those, don’t let it pass you by. We don’t get too many of them. But when it happens, well, it’sindescribable.
I don’t have Mama Maria’s recipe for sauce. I wouldn’t try it if I did. It would never turn out perfect. There is only one Maria.
You might enjoy this one. A baked spaghetti, American style
Shaffer’s Spaghetti
you will need:
6 slices bacon, fried crisp
2 chopped onions
1 chopped green pepper
2 pounds ground beef
2 1 pound cans tomatoes
1 large can tomato paste
1 8 oz sliced mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 T chili powder
½ t paprika
1 small can chopped ripe olives, drained
2-3 T brown sugar
1 bay leaf
1 t Worcestershire sauce
Parmesan cheese
one pound vermicelli, cooked to directions
Brown onions and green pepper in bacon drippings
add tomatoes, paste
olives and seasonings
mix in meat
simmer for one hour
Place vermicelli in baking dish
cover with sauce and cheese
layer until again
Sprinkle crushed bacon on top
bake 30 minutes at 350
cool for a few minutes
cut into squares
Enjoy