Mojitos

For me, mojitos evoke summer. You have the mint straight from the farmers' market, the limes from the North End fruit & veg stand, and the refreshing mix of rum and club soda... Tonight Paul and I savored the taste of summer in a glass. We sat in our "formal room," put Van Morrison on the iPod, and basked in the feeling of not having to return to work for 10 days. Ahhh.

Here is my quasi-recipe (serves 2, twice):
*4 limes
*4 T sugar
*8 oz light rum
*~1-2 c. club soda
*a bunch of torn & crushed mint
*crushed ice

Sognando d'Italia

About nine months out of the year I'm perfectly content where I am--Boston. But just as soon as the sleeveless shirts with a light sweater wrapped around the shoulders come out, and when I slice my first few in-season tomatoes for a caprese, I dream of Italy. Our co-worker Rachael just returned from 10 days in Tuscany, and it made me so jealous to hear about the villa they rented, and about the wine country they visited... Now I can't stop thinking of Italy. It's already been almost two years since our honeymoon in Lake Como, and I cannot wait to get back there. For now, I will keep pretending that "Little Italy" is Big Italy, and that in Italian conversations with the shopkeepers right here in the North End, I'm really in Verona.

My Dad, in Memory

I remember the smell of you
and the circles your pipe made
as you climbed the stairs
creating a halo above you

I remember waffle mornings
and "good morning, america, how are ya"
and the world's greatest breakfast
and your joy among all of us

I remember your dives into Lake Huron
jumping up with a splash
and shouting to me
This is how you know you're alive

I remember the tight embrace
that only a father can give
when I was down or defeated
or just needed your arms around me

I remember your oldies sessions
with the stereo on high
dancing wooly bully on the porch
as the sun set over Lake Huron

This day I remember you
all the things that made you you
and celebrate your life
with all the joy you taught me

Happy Father's Day, Dad