I Suck At Strawberry Fair

On Friday, Karen and I ended up having an unexpected date night. Earlier in the week, my friend's (Cass) birthday celebration was quickly thrown together within the course of a few days. So unfortunately, Karen and I felt a little rushed in having a present ready and available for Cass at his birthday celebration.

Cass would not have minded had we shown up without a present, but it was the principle of it all. After all, Karen and I hardly see Cass as it is. So it could well be into September or October before he received his birthday present. And really, who likes to receive birthday presents past their birthday?

Needless to say, Karen and I did some scrambling around the South Shore after work for Cass's present on Friday. When all was said and done, we did end up finding Cass his present. Of course, in the mad scramble we had to eat dinner.

For those who know me, I eat a lot. (After all, look at me...) When I start to feel hungry, it is a bad sign. Anyway, Karen and I ended up having dinner at Strawberry Fair in Norwell. Now, I suck at Strawberry Fair.

I have not been to Strawberry Fair in quite some time. The last time I went may have been with my parents. But seeing as how the restaurant was featured in the Zip Trip segment of Fox Morning News not too long ago, I figured it would be nice to go there again.

As usual, the food was delicious. I had the Thanksgiving turkey sandwich (Cue Rachael Ray's "Yum-O" sound). Karen had ordered a small salad. Interestingly enough, a large salad was brought out for Karen. It turns out that Strawberry Fair likes to try to get rid of its food near closing time. Granted, we were there around 8:30pm... but the place was rather empty. Karen and I were practically the only ones there at the time.

There was one elderly couple from North Carolina that had previously been seated near us. The elderly man was up from North Carolina to attend his high school reunion. He graduated from Scituate. It's amazing what you can learn from a little eaves dropping. But it was cute.

Of course, hearing about this elderly man's reunion naturally got me thinking about my own reunion. I was pretty amazed that it has been almost 20 (okay, 17) years since I graduated from high school. It seems so long ago. In fact, I even contemplated attending the next reunion... should it be planned.

Since graduating high school, I had never attended a reunion. My high school class planned a fifth and tenth year reunion... and that has been it thus far. Had I known how inept my fellow classmates were in planning these things, I would probably never have elected them to their class office positions. Damn that thing called popularity. That same stupid high school popularity thing got "Oh, what a night" elected as my prom theme. Who thought that was a good idea?

Anyway, I did not attend the fifth year reunion based on the fact that it was useless. For most everyone I knew at the time, they had gone to college and been out one year. There's not a whole lot to catch up on if you ask me.

For the tenth year reunion, I teeter tottered a little because I thought ample time had passed. Eventually, I decided against going because the reunion was held at a bar. (Again, if I knew how inept my classmates were in planning these things...)

As well, my rational side got the better of me for the tenth year when I started to think about how I'm good with not seeing anyone from high school. The ones I do see from high school... I want to see... because they are my friends. I don't really need to see anyone else. (I guess that's also one of my main reasons for not being a big Facebook supporter. Facebook "friends" are not really friends. Plus, after learning how Facebook has ties to the evil empire known as Microsoft only makes me dislike Facebook more.)

Anyway, dinner with Karen was great. I sometimes feel like we don't have date nights as often as we should. I realize part of that is my problem. Since my son (Braden) passed away in September, I have had many mood swings. Among those swings is a stretch where I lack motivation to do anything. So unfortunately, I do get caught up in doing nothing... a lot.

I Still Suck At Strawberry Fair

friday, karen and i went out to dinner with my favorite sister-in-law (janine) and my favorite brother-in-law (pj).

the previous nights, both karen and i helped janine as she prepared for her first craft fair at the south shore vocational technical high school in hanover. karen helped janine with the basket creation and preparation, while i worked on the creation of the website for janine. (for anyone curious, the link to janine's new craft is www.myprettypresent.com.)

anyway, on friday janine and pj had plans to attend a fundraiser for the rockland public schools. the fundraiser involved going to abington to watch jimmy plunkett. (i am not sure why the fundraiser was in abington because the proceeds were for rockland. for that matter, i'm not sure why anyone would want to see jimmy plunkett. i have never seen jimmy plunkett myself. i have always envisioned jimmy plunkett as someone who old people go to see. i could be wrong about that.) nonetheless, janine and pj asked us if we wanted to have dinner beforehand. and so, we went out for dinner. the location: strawberry fair.

too bad i still suck at strawberry fair. as usual, the food was delicious. i had the "special ravioli" which consisted of pumpkin. (cue rachael ray's "yum-o" sound.) whoever thinks ravioli must contain meat inside... moron. just kidding.

needless to say, the four of us had a good night. we celebrated janine's new business. hopefully, the hours she spent this week in preparing for the craft fair were worth it for her. i really hope janine enjoys it. i actually think karen enjoys the whole craft idea with janine as well because karen likes making crafts. karen's current crafting kick is making photo album... things. i know my description of the item doesn't really do it any justice. the photo album thing looks cooler in person.

and although i did not explicitly mention it at dinner, i thought the dinner was a little celebration for my son (braden) too. earlier in the day, karen and i visited with a high risk doctor to plan a course of action in the event karen and i are lucky enough to conceive again. the outlook looked promising, which was good.

i think what stuck in my mind was the fact that the doctor mentioned that braden sacrificed himself to let us know that there was a high risk involved in the pregnancy and any future pregnancies. i know it is a little odd to remember that. i think the reason why i remember it so much is because i had thought about that reason myself at one time after braden had passed... and just hearing the doctor say the same thing made me reflect upon it some more.

with any tragedy, i think a lot of people always wonder why. it's a normal thing and i'm no different. i think knowing why, or at least some reason, gives people more closure as they try to make sense out of the tragedy... where there may not be any sense to it whatsoever.

when i was thinking about why my son had to pass, i had actually thought at one time that the reason was because braden decided to make the biggest sacrifice (that being his life) so that his future siblings could live. you couldn't ask for a better older brother, i guess. whether that really is the reason or not, i'm not sure. but having the doctor mention something similar only made me reaffirm that possible reason why.

thus, having dinner that night... i thought i would celebrate my son who i believe was heroic to the end.

I Suck At Strawberry Fair

my parents came over today.

i think my parents have been keeping track of the days since my son (braden) was born too because my mom mentioned that today braden would have been one month old. of course, my parent's knowing that today braden would have been one month is probably also due to the fact that in chinese tradition... the first month following the birth of a child is a milestone.

needless to say, my parents stopped by the cemetery to see braden before stopping on over to see me. and the funny thing... they brought chinese soup for karen to help her get better. more and more, my parents are starting to perpetuate that stereotype of the "ancient chinese secret" with their soup brews.

luckily for karen, karen was not home to taste the soup. i am sure she will be thrilled to learn that there is more soup for her. i, at least, get out of drinking the soup because according to the ancient chinese secret... it's meant for women who have given birth.

anyway, soup aside, i decided to take my parents out for lunch. because my parents are not that familiar with the area, they let me decide on the place for lunch. they even let me drive their new car (it's a honda civic). the place that i decided upon... strawberry fair. too bad i suck at strawberry fair.

for those who are curious, strawberry fair is located in norwell... on the norwell/hingham border right by the chili's restaurant on route 228. the place was an old farm house that was converted into a restaurant. the restaurant is a charming antique looking place with pretty good food.

my parents have never been to strawberry fair. when we entered the restaurant, my mom's eyes lit up with excitement. she thought the place was so cool with all its antique looking things. also, the table we sat at had the old sewing machine foot pedal, which my mom recognized right away, and she was all smiles with that too.

needless to say, my parents were pretty happy. in honor of braden, i had the salmon burger (cue rachael ray's "yum-o" sound). for those who are curious, braden basically means salmon in gaelic. hence, there is that story where karen's father thought the name was fitting at the time because braden, like salmon swimming upstream, had to fight for his life.

i think my parents had a good time. my mom is already talking about going back.

after strawberry fair, we went back to the house and i showed my parents the pictures of braden on our ginormous television. even though they were tearful, i know they enjoyed seeing him again.

my father even started to cry, saying that braden should never have been taken from us. for me, it was touching. my father does not cry much... which is probably where i get it from.

anyway, i had a good time with my parents. i hope they enjoyed it as well.