Charlotte, NC, August, 2009. My daughter, Gitiim, came up from Houston, Texas to celebrate our milestone summer birthdays—her 45th and my 70th! For added fun, I invited old friends from long ago, and miles away, to join us—Barbara and Deirdre O’Farrell. We know this very cool mother/daughter duo from our days living in the Big Apple.
I met Barbara in the mid-seventies, taking classes at Fordham University-Lincoln Center. Living on Manhattan’s upper-westside, like us, Barbara and I became friends, and that’s how Gitiim met Deirdre, the eldest of Barbara’s 3 children. My son, Matidi, and Gitiim walked from P.S. 84 elementary school, to Barbara’s apartment after classes, and from there, I picked them up after work. A high school student at the time, Deirdre, now and then, ‘baby-sat’ my children. It was through Deirdre, Gitiim, then 10 or eleven, was introduced to karate; Deirdre took classes in the art, and Gitiim went along with her for beginner’s lessons.
Our plans for our birthday week were to spend a couple of days in Charlotte, and the remainder of the time, seeing the sights in Charleston, and it’s surrounding area. The Carolinas were unfamiliar parts of the South to the O’Farrells.
Back to Charlotte, and Gitiim’s paella! Excited, I bought it, then waited months for Gitiim’s homecoming, and the subsequent christening of the sizable, shiny-new paella pan. And it was long after dark, before we and our guests eventually sat down to eat, and Gitiim’s meal proved well worth the wait. First thought upon seeing it on the table was: that’s a stunningly handsome presentation! Gitiim’s mix of shrimp, chicken and mussels was not traditional, I later learned, however, that combination of elements, with her personalized take on the fragrant Spanish rice dish, was clearly a winner! Cheers, and Hats Off to Gitiim!
After the long preparation, G’s final presentation!
Heading back to Houston, after our week long, joint birthday celebration.
Loretta Alexandra 