My cousin Vinnie was there. Tom Orrio, Karen’s dad, who tried out for the New York Yankees was there. On the humongous buffet were two kinds of homemade stromboli, lasagna and Terri’s famous eggplant Parmesan (the best I’ve ever tasted!). It was a serious party.
I kicked off my ’08 world tour with a side trip to Philadelphia to help my soul sister Karen celebrate turning 40. Her husband, Bruce, was turning 50 as well, but who’s counting?
Karen’s mom Terri Coco and her husband Blaise were brave enough to host some 40 guests in their extremely cool Center City townhouse. They live right on South Street, if you are familiar with Philly. If you are not, it’s where the action is. From their location next to Penn’s landing, you can see the Delaware River if you climb up to their rooftop deck. Terri and Blaise have got it goin’.
As a gal of Irish heritage (my people lived through the potato famine for God’s sake!) I can’t help but wonder what is it with the Italians? And the bigger question: How does Karen’s family stay so slim? There was enough food and drink to feed a third world nation, or get it good and drunk anyway.
I have another good friend, Lynn, who’s also married to the mob (just kidding Dominic). Same thing! Nick can cook up a storm, and I’m told there are no fewer than 50 different kinds of homemade cookies at Christmas. It’s even wearing off on Lynn’s lily-white Protestant ass. They just like to feed you. Oh well, if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. What else are you going to do?!
So that’s exactly what we did. To honor Karen we ate, drank, laughed and carried on. It was a true celebration. Those Italians, maybe they’re on to something?
