Butlers? Who Needs Them?

Nester.  Hearing his name makes me stand taller.  Nester was Mimi's butler and he stood tall with perfect posture.  Just as you envision The Perfect Butler.  His wife, Miriam, was The Cook.  Mimi and Eddie (her 2nd husband, our step-grandfather) lived the summers in Long Island.  We made the pilgramage to The Hamptons every summer when I was a child.  If memory serves me correctly I went through my 16th year. 

As mentioned in a previous post, Brother is working on our family tree.  (I've dubbed him The Research King).  In his surfing, he unearthed a blurry photo of Mimi's home on Further Lane.  When I looked at it; memories flooded every fiber of my being...and I just had to blog about it. 

Do YOU have a place - a memory - that when you think of it - you have to be still?  And go there...day dream.  I do.  It's here...at Mimi's.

I've a love of gravel crunching.  The driveway was long....and deliciously crunched under the wheels of our (always) slow approach to the house.  It seems we'd turn in the drive; and the cares of life would ooze on out.  Summers were slow.  Intentional.

Nester would greet us in a very proper way.  So different from ME if you were to ring MY doorbell.  I'd scream "woo-hoo, you're here.  Come on in."  Nester:  "Welcome.  Please do come in."

Another love of mine is The Cocktail.  For me, it's more the "word" than the drink.  I just love saying:  "Let's have a cocktail."  "Shall we meet in the lobby for cocktails?"  Back then, Nester would announce:  "Cocktails shall be served in the library at 7 o'clock."

My Brothers and I were under age but were invited anyway.  For Ginger Ale.  Most often I'd sit on the floor so my view was of a silver tray as an extension of Nester's arm.  Beautiful glasses of amber "liquid" tinkling with ice.  To this day that vision takes me back.  I was bent on sitting by "the secret drawer."  Mimi kept it stocked with Life Savers.  The Brothers and I always had lovely breath.  And then... "Dinner is served."  The grown-ups would move to the very formal dining room and the three of us were relegated to the kitchen with Miriam and Nester.  After our dinner, we'd move to their TV room and watch a little Bonanza, Hazel or My Three Sons. 

There was one dinner I won't forget.  We were invited to join them in the dining room.  Nester brought us "finger bowls" between courses.  You do know about finger bowls, don't you?  Well, at that age we did not.  One of us (????) brought the bowl to our lips for a drink.  So not the thing to do.  I tell that story today in my etiquette classes.  It usually brings a giggle.  I don't think Mimi and Eddie giggled.

My summers were filled with life lessons.  Mimi was my biggest fan and took it upon herself to mentor me.  I loved every single minute I spent with her.  She's the one that told me to (only) marry for love & laughter.  I did.  She always had a book in her hand - told me reading could be as good as any education.  I am surrounded by books.  Her home was layered with treasures...that meant something to her.  Mine is too.  I'll never have a streamlined, uncluttered home.

(Fall '78 or '79.   I was newly married to My Guy.  He and Mimi met.  It was a beautiful thing.) 

And so while we're still climbing our family tree nostalgic and wonderful memories bombard me.  I just had to tell you about a few.  It enforces my desire for my family to have (good) memories.  Thirty years from now, at 84...my boys can read my blog.  I hope they'll have fond and loving memories of My Guy and me.

I don't have a Nester but ummm, My Guy is pretty amazing around the house.  We don't have a chateau in The Hamptons but our home is filled with love.  I'll take My Guy in the Texas suburbs anytime and am grateful for enduring, loving memories of days gone by.