I have a really random brain sometimes so it doesn't take much for a quick sensory observation or experience to bring back a memory from years' past. That happened to me today; I love it when that happens :)
I was walking to the 8th Street subway station after classes this morning to head uptown for my chiropractor appointment. I passed a food vendor cart on the street. It's the exact same one I pass almost every day, but for some reason the scent of hot dogs and burgers cooking immediately got me thinking about Hidden Creek Country Club--the golf club that my grandparents had been members of from the time they moved to Virginia from Long Island up until a few years ago.
I spent a lot of time with Nana and Pop-pop growing up (and still do when I'm home as I'm sure most of you have noticed! Haha!) so I hung out quite a bit at the golf club! When I was six Nana signed me up for the Junior Golf summer program and I continued to take part in that for the next six or seven years. I'd play golf with the kids every Tuesday morning in the summer (meaning I got to have a fun sleepover at Nana and Pop-pop's the night before of course! Complete with a delicious dinner, an old musical on video and ice cream!), I'd go out golfing with Nana and her friends on occasion...Sometimes when I was really young and didn't have to go to dance after golf was finished Nana would stay with me while I went swimming in the pool before heading back to her house. We had Pro-Ams and ParentAt the end of each golf "season" there would be an awards banquet for us kids where we'd receive our trophies and eat dinner with our families and just have a great little time.
Every Tuesday night was Burger Night at the grill (which is the particular memory the smell made me think of today), so as much as we could we took this as the perfect opportunity to get the family together! We'd pretty much always be missing a member or two, sometimes it was just us and Nana and Pop-pop, but either way it was always a blast! My favorite place to sit was at the corner booth with the wrap-around bench but if we couldn't sit there (or if the parents wanted to sit somewhere else) we were always known for rearranging the tables and pulling over seats to fit us all in. The kids sat at one end of the table, the parents at the other with Nana usually at the head of the table! We'd rush over to the popcorn maker (the free popcorn was always one of the best parts!) and fill up a few baskets to put on the table. Drink of choice? Shirley Temple. Meal of choice? Chicken fingers. We'd eat and laugh and while the parents were finishing (they always took SO long!) Peter, Katie, Morgan and I would go run around the hallways, in and out of locker rooms, downstairs through the indoor driving range...They were awesome family nights that I'm so glad we made happen! I know I'm on a family kick these days, but I just can't help it! They always make my days great whether I'm with them or not!
Whoa! All that from a food vendor?! Who'd have thought?!
Tonight, those wonderful memories that pop back up totally unexpectedly make me happy :)
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