22 | October | 2012 | MY Doramac

Econo Lodge

Hi Guys,

I just realized I’m writing two fish stories in a row. This one tells about the traditional lobster dinner we have when visiting our New Bedford friends. Now all of those friends live in the small towns adjacent to New Bedford. But New Bedford is where Harriet, Bruce (and Dick and Bill) and I grew up so I think of all of them as my New Bedford friends. Jean and Eileen grew up next door in Dartmouth just down the street. It is still a very favorite part of my world and now Randal’s too. I wish I’d taken more photos, real staged ones to capture everyone with at least one good photo. But I was too busy talking and then eating and then it was too late. Next year I’ll get everyone to pose!

During one of the long ago visits Randal and I made to friends in Dartmouth he was introduced to a New England Lobster dinner. He was instantly hooked and our friends have happily made us a lobster dinner every year since.

Eileen, the Lobster Queen

Eileen tackling the lobsters as Randal and Harriet watch. Bill, Eileen’s husband, Harriet and Bruce.

Harriet, Bruce and I have known each other for almost 60 years! Bruce and I lived across Plymouth Street from each other so met before we started school. Harriet moved to the corner of Burns and Plymouth when she was 6. We’re all 62 this year…but I’m the oldest! Bill, Harriet’s husband Dick, and my sister were in the same class at New Bedford High School. Dick grew up around the corner from Harriet. Eileen and Jean are sisters. Jean is married to Bruce. Got that all?

Jean and Bruce and my lobster!

Earlier in the day Harriet had taken us to a great fish market where we got the lobsters. It’s like watching a show as everyone comes in to buy all kinds of fish and the there’s no question that you ask that can’t be answered by someone behind the counter. (I hadn’t brought either camera! Rats!)

Harriet brings in some more boiled corn. Dick watching the action; Randal enjoying his lobster!

Econo Lodge

Hi Guys,

So we’re on our way home! We had a great weekend with our friends in Dartmouth that went all too fast. All of our visits have gone TOO FAST. Today we made a superfast pass through western Massachusetts stopping for about 10 minutes at Quabbin Reservoir. The visitor center was sort of closed for a school program and there was no one to interact with non-school visitors so we left to go find lunch. We did stop at the Yiddish Book Center on the campus of Hampshire College and that was really interesting: a feel good story! A took a zillion photos.

So soon the last (thank goodness) debate will be on and we’ll watch some of it anyway.

This email are some final photos of our visit in Brookline.

While in Brookline we’ve started the tradition of having dinner at Legal Seafood and inviting Martha’s pal Gerard to join us. I met Gerard years ago when Martha first moved to Brookline so it’s always fun to keep in touch.

Randal is the brown jacket and I’m the red reflection. Martha, our helpful waiter and Gerard.

Pecan encrusted hake, roasted Brussels sprouts, and mashed sweet potatoes. Yummm. Funny enough from never having had roasted Brussels sprouts we cooked them at Julia’s and then I ate them at Legal Seafood. I have to say the ones we cooked at Julia’s were a tad bit better and the salmon was every bit as good as the Legal Seafood fish, but Legal Seafood does a really good job too. It truly is hard to beat a good home cooked meal.

Then stuffed to the gills (an appropriate expression when you’ve overeaten at Legal Seafood,) we returned to home for a photo session. Jessica put aside her horror of having her photo taken and let me take a few. She was as intrigued with my new camera as I am.