last night was the last hurrah on Lauren's roof. her pool closes after Labor Day, and so we had one final shindig to bid farewell to summer. the weather cooperated (for a change) and Lauren, per her usual, put out an incredible spread (including a watermelon and cucumber gazpacho that was kick-ass), the wine was flowing, and many of my favorite people were there. oh, and the moon was orange. yes, orange, just hanging there over the East River. rather stunning, actually. and we all had a really great time.
there was the requisite talk about jobs and relationships and why Dolch didn't bring potato salad. Margaret and her husband talked about their honeymoon in Australia (i think everyone said, at one point or another, "a dingo ate my baybay!") and a few of us dared to go in the pool despite it being almost chilly on the roof. the little kid we gave brownies to last time came by for some chocolate chip cookies, and the older folks who were up there having a pool party of their own gave us their leftover wine and an entire pizza (after we'd already gorged ourselves on cheese and crackers and prosciutto-wrapped bread sticks).
the most interesting part of the night came later on when Dolch and i were chatting with Lauren's boyfriend, Chris, who always has very insightful things to say about life. we were discussing family issues and then, specifically, father issues. i don't have any to speak of, personally (other than the passed-on DNA that causes me to go apoplectic over the Yankees) but i do know very well the impact a rocky relationship with a father can have on a person. and it sort of blew my mind last night, because how long have i been in therapy, and that one conversation on the roof opened my eyes, and turned out to be a real light bulb moment for me.
come to think of it, that roof has actually been the scene of several "moments" for me this summer. i think i may have experienced some real mental growth up there. (perhaps it was the combination of chlorine and pinot noir. or maybe the bacon chocolate from Vosges.) anyway, it was another lovely night. you never do know what will happen up on that roof. and i will miss it very much all winter.
mb
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