Parenting 101

This is it - the night before our trip to London, and surprisingly, my mother has done a great job of getting ready. Just a few last minute things in our carry on and we're ready to go. To wish us bon voyage, we had another round of relative visits. We met my cousins Keri and Jay and their children  - yes - that's right, plural - at my all-time favorite kitschy restaurant - The Kowloon. Now growing up in Medford, the mammoth Chinese restaurant was always one of my go-to places and situated on the busy RT 1 in Saugus, the north shore's answer to great Asian cuisine has always provided a great meal and incredible prices. And where else could you get a flaming Pu Pu Platter over flowing with appetizers that could feed a small army?

With its volcanic mosaics, dragon covered walls and its makeshift ship in the middle of the floor, the restaurant has something for everyone. Watching my cousins, who've never been insides its doors of deliciousness marvel at the decor, food and prices was well worth the planning. Often times, being so far away, I forget what an amazing brood of relatives I have and being away for over twenty years, to see their kids, not only know who I am, but also get so excited to see me really warms an old bitter heart.

It was a great afternoon made even more decadent by getting the kids ice cream at another old staple of my childhood - Putnam Pantry. The little candy shoppe/home made ice cream parlor made to look like an old New English hut has stood for longer than I can remember. Over the course of my high school years, it added a lot of pounds to my already "husky" frame.

Today, I gave a ride to my cousin's youngest son and trying to be the cool "uncle," I let him ride in the front seat of my car.

"You can ride in the front seat?"

"YES!" Graham exclaimed and off we went up the highway. Pulling into the parking lot, his mother leaned out her window and scolded,"Obviously, Uncle Jim doesn't know the first thing about parenting!"

Now, mind you, I did think it was a little strange when I looked over and thought the front  seat was a bit low for Graham, but I did ask if a car seat was required. Doesn't that count?

All this activity was great for Rosemarie as it kept her mind occupied and away from the task at hand - finishing up the last of the packing. We have plenty of time though, we don't have to leave for Logan until noon. I want to have plenty of time to return the car and enjoy all the perks of flying her first class.

At least the flight attendant won't scold me for putting her in that seat. Now, if I do say so myself. That's great parenting.

What ever happened to the Pewter Pot?

There's one full day left before Rosemarie and I take off for London, and now, as I watch her wondering around the living room looking at her suitcase and the clothes stacked nearby, I'm waiting for her to give up for the night and settle into her chair. There'll be plenty of time tomorrow to put everything in order and, in the meantime, today was a fantastic day with old friends and relatives. 

Before the day began, though, I was on the hunt for a corn muffin. A hunt for a corn muffin, you ask? Well, when I was a kid, my mom would take me to the Pewter Pot in Medford Square and in that kitschy restaurant, with the waitresses dressed as colonial serving wenches, we would have a breakfast that always included a grilled corn muffin slathered with butter. It's one of those memories that is forever burned into my mind, along with the little lace hat that the servers were made to wear. I could never see their shoes because their Old English dresses went right to the floor.

These days,  every time I go for breakfast, I always, although I know that no place in Los Angeles ever has one, ask for a grilled corn muffin. Do I want a banana nut, bran raisin, lemon poppyseed or cinnamon bun? No, I tell them, I just want a simple corn muffin, but that seems to be an impossible ask in the entire city of Angels. But today, in the super Stop 'n Shop, there they were  - a whole case of muffins and on the top rack - the object of my hunger. I scooped them up, looked for little Alfred lost in the aisles of the store, and headed back to grill my childhood memory. My dad wanted to wait in the car, but in the heat of the day, all I could picture was the headline, "Son leaves father in locked car," and I made him come into the store, where he promptly took off for parts unknown. 

When we got home, alas, my mother was not wearing a lace head piece. But we grilled the muffin together just the same.

After brunch and a round of bowling, where she again beat me, but by only two pins, she's now safely settled into her chair. Tomorrow, it's a trip to my all-time favorite mega Chinese restuarant for lunch and  then I'll have to take a look at what she's packing and eliminate a third of it. 

The best part of the day? When my cousin Linda said that at least where we are going this time, the language is English, so if Rosemarie gets lost on the train without me she can find her way back to the hotel. And, if you think, that even for a second, despite the non-language barrier, that my mother would let that happen, I've got an old New England  restaurant chain I want to sell you.

The Prodigal Son Returns

After a bit of a restless sleep last night, I was up and out before the break of dawn this morning. I always find it hard to get a night's rest before a long trip and last night was no different. My car pick up was fifteen minutes early, which always scores points with me. I love the mornings, and if you've never seen Los Angeles before the break of dawn, you're really missing a unique sight. Getting anywhere is a breeze and this morning, there wasn't a sign of any poor drunken bastard on his way home from his still Friday night on the town.

The airport, however, was packed. After, literally bumping into Jermaine Jackson and his handler in terminal 7, I unsuccessfully waited for my second position on the upgrade list to change. Then, with what must have been the oldest flight attendants ever to work a United cross country flight, I tried not to think how they could possibly help me should an emergency happen, and settled into my window seat. I prefer the aisle but in order to board in group two, I had to endure one of my least favorite seats.

And then, right on time, we were on the ground in Boston. Each time I come back, I'm amazed at how much the city has changed. First, the new United terminal at Logan is sleek, clean and sparkling bright. I almost thought I was at the wrong airport since the aroma of Dunkin' Donuts did not greet me. Trust me, though, I will get one before I leave.

In no time at all, I was on a familiar road back to the city where I grew up. Condos have replaced familiar sights along the way home, which made me nostalgic for days past, but fear not Kappy's Liquors still stands watch over Wellington Circle.

Then, I was maneuvering up the dangerously steep front steps of my parents' house. I shook hands with the little man called Alfred and then gave Rosemarie a big hug.

"You've grown," she exclaimed.

"No, you've shrunk," I answered."I'm too old to be still gaining inches."

She's got everything all lined up to pack in the living room, and with my head bursting from no nourishment save an $8.99 snack box, we went to dinner at the still standing Bertucci's. Imagine my shock when my brother pulled out his wallet and treated us all to dinner!

"I need to come home more often," I said. "Or at least, you could have warned me and I would have ordered a cocktail and dessert!"

Now, I'm comfortably settled into my old spot in the den and for reasons I know all too well - I feel like a teenager all over again. That's enough to make one forget the real world back home, isn't it?

Eastward Ho

So, another installment of travels with my mother is about to begin and I couldn't be more excited. I've spent the last week in Las Vegas at the network's annual meeting of its affiliates. For six days, I've had to sparkle, smile and, pun intended - network with not only NBC's stations, but hundreds of television professionals. There's nothing I enjoy better than being on stage and when I took to the spotlight on Tuesday, I made the audience of 200 plus laugh along with me while providing them with key points for them to take back to their stations. But Vegas is a tough town for longer than a drunken weekend and by the time my plane touched down last night, I was wiped out - in a much needed space for a vacation.

I've got everything packed and even though we don't leave Boston until Tuesday, you know Rosemarie has her bags ready to go. Last week, she asked my cousin where we were stopping prior to the United Kingdom and she was not happy with our layover in Newark.

"Tell her to hush or I'll leave her in New Jersey," I texted back. I purposely made the connection so we have time to relax in the International Red Carpet Lounge prior to the trip across the pond. The last two times we've gone to Europe, our connections have been under an hour, and although it's plenty of time, I wanted this trip to be relaxing and comfortable. It's Rosemarie's first time in First Class and I want both of us to savor every warm walnut and ice cream sundae. And if I'm lucky, she'll play with the controls of her lie flat bed and actually fall asleep.

We've got a few days in Boston to visit with family and then the adventure begins. Fasten your seat belts - and although I can't afford First class for all of you to join, stay tuned and read all about it.

Three Week Countdown

So, in just three weeks, my mother and I start our next European adventure in London. I've got most of the logistics planned - I'm still undecided if we go to Bath or Stratford-upon-Avon or both. I've always wanted to see Shakespeare's Birthplace - especially since I always excelled in my education when it came to reading and writing about his plays. I'll never forget the day I had to recite Hamlet's famous soliloquy in my Junior year English class overseen by the horrible curmudgeon, Mr. Sweeney. I got through it much to his dismay.

Before my mom and I take off, though, I'm arriving in Boston for a few days. We'll visit with my old friend, take a trip up to the North Shore to see some relatives and then cap the pre-trip festivities with a visit to my all-time favorite kitsch restaurant - The Kowloon! The sprawling landmark of  mai tais & comedy amidst a "Polynesian" decor is really a feast for the senses. (The food is great, don't be fooled!) If you've even been to San Francisco and visited the Tonga Room, this place is Tonga times twenty. It'll be the perfect way to end our pre-trip festivities.

Already, Rosemarie is thinking of what to pack and I told her that, although she can go over the 50 pound limit going across the pond - she'll have to be careful as we are in economy plus coming back.

"What?" she asked incredulously. "Economy?"

I think if I keep taking her to Europe, I better get more miles and fast.