Today I am getting on a plane and heading to Rhode Island for the first time in nine years.
BabyBro is getting married and this weekend is his co-ed shower. It will be nice to see my mom, Don, grandma and, most importantly my brother. I haven’t seen him in 5 1/2 years and have never met his fiance. I am looking forward to eating my way through RI, revisiting all those places I frequented as a kid and teenager.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit this trip has brought some anxiety along with the anticipation. I didn’t run away from problems in RI, but I gladly left them behind as I entered adulthood. Luckily my friend Irish Lebowski is coming along with me to make a girl’s trip out of it and offer a little support.
Irish and I don’t have a lot in common; in fact, we are a pretty unlikely pair. But I know this; she is like the sister I never had, one of my closest and truest friends and part of a very small handful of people I trust enough to stand by me and maybe even prop me up a little as I get very drunk on some (hopefully boxed) wine this weekend.
Family, blood and chosen, mixing over some grinders and coffee milk. Oh Rhody, I’ve come a long way, but I still think you can coax my accent out after all these years.
Hurray for trips to New England! Welcome home…
There’s something about going home that instills equal parts dread and anticipation in me (likely because my hometown is so small that there are no secrets and you’re always who you were at your worst.)
I like to pull a Vonnegut and call it “the smell of mustard gas and roses”.
Home is a state of mind. Regardless of where Rhode Island fits in with that, savor and enoy this trip.
Home is Rhode Island
Orphan state of New England
In Lem’s rear mirror
Enjoy your visit and don’t let the bahstahds get you down!
Haven’t been “home” in a while. But for us, home has changed and moved so many times that maybe that trip can’t happen anyway.
Returning to old favorite hangouts will be a blast. Have fun!
P.S. I remember RI having an unusually high number of donut shops? Was that just me or do y’all eat more donuts per capita? LOL.
Bring me back something Rhode Island-y! Like high unemployment, or really big hair.
It’s definitely interesting to see how places have changed…and to see if they still feel like home. I know, for me, Philly feels less and less like it, as it’s replaced by DC.
Have fun! Or, at least enjoy the boxed wine.
A co-ed shower sounds nice about now.
Rhode Island. Kind of a strange name for a state, no? Its not even an Island. WTF?!
I hope it turns into a good time for all. I figure the fiance should be the nervous one, with the spotlight on her. So, if you’re there to ease her into the family, you’ll be a heroine.
Where is Rhode Island? Is it even a state?
see you and drink with you soon lady!
Rhode Island. Kind of a strange name for a state, no? Its not even an Island.
Dunno, but I’m pretty sure they have rhodes there. How else would they get around?
I grew up in the DC area, and have never left “home”. But my mother’s family is all in the SF area and we didn’t visit for nearly a decade. It was good to visit again a few years back. Then I’ve been back there at least 10 times in 8 years.
Good that you have your “sister” going. My first trip back to SF was solo after a business trip. It was a bit intimidating to meet some relatives I hadn’t seen in a decade or more.
I’m sorry, I just can’t get over the “co-ed shower.” Is your gift to your bro a new set of balls?
I hope you have a nice trip!
I love Providence Place mall
I’m crossing my fingers that the accent is there when you come back
good luck. hope the anxiety proves to be unfounded!
Good luck darling. Drunk dial me and say something awesome. My friend Babygirl from college is from RI and we would always tease her on how she actually said the state name.
Rhd Iiiisland.
I love accents.
I’m glad you have a good friend along for moral support and fun. I hope you have a fantastic weekend!
Sometimes the old place is just too darn small. But it’s good to go back and visit once in a while. Good luck…
Boxed wine, be still my heart.
uh. I want to hear this accent you speak of.
Have a clam roll and a Narragansett for me.
Have fun. And I’m glad you’ve got a buffer going with you. That’s what I call it. I always need a buffer. Stops the crazies from getting out of control. And keeps my mom from saying every little thing that comes into her mind.
Have a good rip Lulu (my new nickname for you). Enjoy the grinders.
Wow. 9 years is a long time to be away from home. Is RH really that bad? I hope everything goes wonderfully!
Thanks to everyone for stopping by. I am in RI where it is rainy and I still am without my luggage. That being said, it is 415 and I have already been drinking for an hour. It is not all bad.
Is your gift to your bro a new set of balls?
Oooooh…. when you said “co-ed shower” I thought… something else.
Yum, grinders! Make sure to have a cabinet for me! And maybe some quahogs if you can find them.
have fun on the trip. i’m looking forward to stories of you scarfing down some lobster or clam rolls while deeply in a drunken state following a long night of debauchery.
Hopefully you’re enjoying your trip and your family and, of course, the drinking.
Oh my sweet, Lem. My heart and thoughts are with you this weekend. Good luck. And bring me back some of that coffee milk!
Wow. 5-1/2 years. There’s a story there, I know it. Sounds like it’s gonna be an intense trip home. Have a fantastic time! And look forward to hearing the stories on the other side.