Filed by Anne Braly
A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I headed up to Lexington, Va., where she’ll be working on a physics grant for the summer at her college, Washington and Lee. I always enjoy driving up through the Valley of Virginia. It’s the birthplace of my father’s side of the family and in my opinion the prettiest place on God’s Earth.
But this trip was even more special. It began horribly, with my having to tow a U-Haul behind my SUV by myself, by the way. My youngest insisted on having her own bed and other furniture stored in our garage to fill her new apartment in downtown Lexington. I will never haul a trailer again as long as I live. I have new respect for trailer haulers. But, once we arrived and unloaded in the rain, then deposited the U-Haul at the appropriate place, I felt a definite sense of I-can-do-anything accomplishment.
The next evening, we dined at my cousin, Katie’s, lovely home near historic downtown Lexington. We ate outdoors and the simplicity of menu is what made this meal all the more special. Her friend/fiance Nick was at the grill, preparing slices of grilled eggplant, purple onions, potatoes, red peppers, yellow peppers and asparagus spears that had all been marinated in olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper and some garlic. A thick steak, marinated with the same mixture, was thrown on the grill along with the veggies, then thickly sliced before serving. The result was an incredible presentation of color and flavor all piled onto one large platter and placed in the center of the table. We took our forks and dug in.
There’s something special about family dinners and the memories they create. This one will last for a while, and I plan to repeat the dinner at a party at my own home in the near future.
Now, how are Katie and I related? She’s the former wife of my great-great aunt’s step-grandson. But in the South, that’s family.
E-mail Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com
A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I headed up to Lexington, Va., where she’ll be working on a physics grant for the summer at her college, Washington and Lee. I always enjoy driving up through the Valley of Virginia. It’s the birthplace of my father’s side of the family and in my opinion the prettiest place on God’s Earth.
But this trip was even more special. It began horribly, with my having to tow a U-Haul behind my SUV by myself, by the way. My youngest insisted on having her own bed and other furniture stored in our garage to fill her new apartment in downtown Lexington. I will never haul a trailer again as long as I live. I have new respect for trailer haulers. But, once we arrived and unloaded in the rain, then deposited the U-Haul at the appropriate place, I felt a definite sense of I-can-do-anything accomplishment.
The next evening, we dined at my cousin, Katie’s, lovely home near historic downtown Lexington. We ate outdoors and the simplicity of menu is what made this meal all the more special. Her friend/fiance Nick was at the grill, preparing slices of grilled eggplant, purple onions, potatoes, red peppers, yellow peppers and asparagus spears that had all been marinated in olive oil, oregano, salt, pepper and some garlic. A thick steak, marinated with the same mixture, was thrown on the grill along with the veggies, then thickly sliced before serving. The result was an incredible presentation of color and flavor all piled onto one large platter and placed in the center of the table. We took our forks and dug in.
There’s something special about family dinners and the memories they create. This one will last for a while, and I plan to repeat the dinner at a party at my own home in the near future.
Now, how are Katie and I related? She’s the former wife of my great-great aunt’s step-grandson. But in the South, that’s family.
E-mail Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com
