A WD Wednesday Post
It wasn’t a planned thing, just one of those random dinners that come together at the last minute, somehow turning into the perfect night. The air had that perfect fall crispness, the kind that makes you want to grab a sweater and linger outside a little longer. We gathered at a family member’s home by the coast of the Rockaways, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, a mix of familiar faces that instantly felt like home.
We brought a bouquet of fall florals for the host, deep oranges, soft yellows, a few wild sprigs that looked like autumn itself. Someone got the idea to gather some crisp leaves from the backyard, scattering them along the table between the dishes and candles. It wasn’t fancy, but it looked like something out of a cozy magazine spread, effortless, a little messy, oh so fall seasonal vibes.
The grill came to life not long after, and the smell of dinner started filling the air. We ate simply, steak and chicken, grilled veggies, a fresh salad, and wine that kept flowing as easily as the conversation. Plates passed back and forth, laughter overlapping in the best way, stories shared between bites and sips.
After dinner, someone pulled out the marshmallows and chocolate, and before long we were making s’mores, laughing over who burned theirs the fastest. The night was going smooth and effortless, with nobody in a hurry to move on.
Later, we drifted inside to the pool table, moms versus moms, siblings versus siblings, cousins vs cousins, etc. The laughter got louder with every missed shot and every lucky one that somehow sank. It was pure fun, the kind that reminds you how good it feels to just be together.
As the night wound down, we started tossing out ideas for “next time” maybe another the Nightmare Before Christmas exhibit at the Botanical Garden, or maybe a weekend in the woods. Some of us had to head back to the city afterward, but even as we packed up, no one really wanted the evening to end.
Heading home, the windows cracked just enough to let in the ocean air in before going into the concrete lifeless highways, I kept thinking about how simple it all was… a few fall flowers, a backyard full of leaves, good food, and even better company. Somehow, those are the nights that stays with me the longest.