“It is what it is.”
December 23, 2007, at the Karnes’
The roadway points up a snow-covered hill, and a foyer
aglow of diffused pumpkin ushers a group of ten to celebrate another year of
friendship, camaraderie, and good fortune. Despite the pressure and stress and
issues of family members’ health, DP8 (along with Mike & Sheila Romalin)
gathered to celebrate Deb Karnes’ 364-days-to-50th, along with our group’s
fifth “annual” (I use the word advisedly, because it has been five years in
a row, but a word that denotes no expectation of a Karnes’ duty to continue)
Christmas event.
A foot of
snow cover greeted us, despite a forecast of wind and flooding for the upcoming
day. All of us arrived within fifteen minutes of each other, initiating calls of
Christmas cheer before the serious catching up of news – Christmas holiday
plans, comings and goings of family, health concerns, stress, school parties,
shopping, more stress, ... and so on.
Hors d’oeuvres were masterfully achieved by the Adamses; Judy had
fabricated an inviting wheel of cheese spread – cheddar, cream cheese,
Worcestershire sauce, lemon, red cayenne pepper, chopped red pepper, decorated
with parsley and the chopped red pepper – complemented by plates of mini
crab-cakes, mushroom pockets, and onion-feta puffs.
Chay concurrently bartended – pinot noir, cab, Beaujolais, white zin,
Scotch, Kir Royale, and more. The call came to sit. As tradition dictates, Chay
and Deb had poppers and favors ready. We popped, read the cornbally but funny
jokes, tossed the confetti, donned the silly hats, except for Tim who managed to
“tear” his in the extrication from the popper. Even Ken sported his paper
hat (a threat of no coffee by S.O. may have influenced his decision). Three inch
round cowbells favored one of the spouse’s plates, while a word ornament favor
awaited the other. ....
The salad course consisted of a spring and Mediterranean greens mix, with
feta and mushrooms, craisins, blueberries, olives, radishes, carrots and
tomatoes making for a lively salad, thanks to Deb T, and topped with homemade
balsamic vinaigrette.
An intermezzo of lime
sorbet, homemade and freshly made, of course, cleansed the palates. Although Deb
claimed to have erred in the creamier and airier than usual preparation, the
oohs and aahs attested to one of her specialties.
The dinner wine this evening was 2003 Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano, a
red dry wine that maintained well over the evening’s course.
The entrée arrived in
usual grand fashion – horseradish and garlic encrusted filet mignon, prepared
for everyone’s inclination of doneness. Deb’s too-hot-to-touch creamy
cheese-garlic twice baked, mashed potatoes matched Sheila’s half barrel of
vegetables – broccoli, carrots, string beans and more in a buttery herb glaze
sauce. Every bite was a delight.
Needing an hour before dessert, we retreated to the living room (new
furniture, too) and DK opened a round of birthday gifts. A squeal of delight
arose upon espying a wall sign that read, It Is What It Is, an
affirmation/acceptance/resignation of her traveling back and forth to Fredonia
regularly these past many weekends for her mother, as well as keeping up with
work and life and the rest.
DP10 again opted for our usual gift opening, person 1 through person 10,
with each opener allowed to “trade” from the previous opened gifts. Judy
scooped Kriss’s bowl, Sheila blatantly snarked Chay’s basket, while Ken
gentlemanly-like traded for Don’s wine, not that any gift is anyone’s
anyway. (In an effort to better conceal who brought what present in the future,
Chay suggested that next year we wrap our gifts in brown paper bag, to be left
in the garage for Chay to deliver into the living room.)
After that little “it’s-the-thought-that-counts” orgy, we retraced
our steps back to the dining room for dessert, where Kriss had baked “from
scratch” a dense, chocolaty cake – be-hollied, and sprinkled with confectionary
sugar. Deb K celebrated Mike’s 60th with a birthday cake, in the shape of 60,
which Mike proclaimed culinary boobs, so, along with Kriss’ satisfying cake,
we enjoyed the rich, delicious carrot boob cake, supplemented with a scoop of
vanilla ice cream.
Homemade cookies, chocolate candy, tea, coffee, and more wine finished
off the evening while we finished off the last hour of the day, literally. As
the stories ventured more consistently off track, and Krypton added his
contribution to the Christmas air, we deemed it time to end a memorable evening
and allow the hosts to tidy up.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Chay and Deb for hosting another Christmas
celebration which means more year after year. We other eight appreciate your
hospitality and generosity, your pleasure in going all out (I hope we noticed
and complimented all the details), and the chance to laugh together. Happy
Holidays and the Best to All in the Coming Year!