Long Island, New York: A Break from Doctors and Medical Testing! Breakfast in Greenwich with a Dear Friend, Visits with a Recovering Friend in Manhasset and with Long-Lost Uni Classmates in Glen Cove, Lunch with Friends in Syosset, Outlet Shopping at Tanger and Dinner with More Friends!

Long Island, New York

Saturday, October 3, 2026:

A Break from Doctors and Medical Testing!

Breakfast in Greenwich with a Dear Friend, Visits with a Recovering Friend in Manhasset and with Long-Lost Uni Classmates in Glen Cove, Lunch with Friends in Syosset, Outlet Shopping at Tanger and Dinner with More Friends!

Today was a fabulously fun day! It was such a relief to take a break from unending doctors’ visits and clinical testing to spend a day entirely with friends and although it was a bit of a hike for us to get from Southport, Connecticut to Long Island, our friends made it fully worthwhile for us. Besides, as I have said often, I enjoy driving so much that I was really delighted to be able to do so for an extensive period of time on highways that are a real pleasure to navigate.

First Stop: Greenwich, Connecticut, for an Indian Breakfast:

It was a real joy to stop en route at Greenwich, Connecticut, for three reasons: we’d be meeting our friend Swapna again (her husband Rasik had, in a case of really bad timing, left just this morning for India—so we well and truly crossed each other); second, we’d have a chance to see their new home in Greenwich (they used to live in Fairfield which is where we first met them) and, thirdly, we could be sure of a really good breakfast at her place. Swapna is one of those sweet, warm, generous human beings who makes you feel like a million dollars when you meet her. Well, today, was no exception and she had a typically Indian breakfast awaiting us that, get this…she had woken up at the crack of dawn to make! We were most touched by her warmth and generosity. Typica Indian hospitality! It was idlis with sambhar and chutney and kala jamuns for dessert with lovely hot coffee. What’s more, I discovered that Swapna had glass milk bottles such as the ones I used to have when I lived in Connecticut and, of course, I felt a real urge to take two of them back home to Bombay--one for milk, another for cream. Swapna had an extra one and gave it to me, I would buy another from Whole Foods before I left so that I would take two glass bottles back to Bombay!

Of course, we did get the Grand Tour of their new home, and of course, and surveyed their lovely tiered garden. They are in such a quiet corner of Greenwich that it seems tucked away in the country. Of course, we spoke at length about our family members and caught up on all their doings and then much as we would have liked to stay longer, we had to leave as we were on a schedule as we would be having lunch with our friends in Syosset on Long Island. So off we went with me behind the wheel. Our next stop would be in Manhasset on Long Island.

Meeting a Close Friends After Ages:

I got to know about this dear friend, Jackie, recovering from lung cancer, only a few months ago. As I am fond of her and her son was once my student at Fairfield University, I resolved to make a stop at her place if ever I was on Long Island during any of our future trips to the US. So, when I told her that we were coming to the US, she immediately found a spot for us in our day to meet her.

Accordingly, we arrived at her place in Manhasset and had a brief but really fulfilling visit with her. We were so relieved to find out that her treatment has worked wonders and that she is so much better than we had expected. No, we did not stay long as we had another visit to make before we arrived at our friends’ for lunch. So, bidding her goodbye and wishing her all the best, we set off again for our next stop: Bar Frites in Glen Cove.

Meeting Long-Lost Uni Friends at Glen Cove:

One of the highlights of this visit to the US for me was meeting my long-lost friend, Julie Katz, after at least 25 years—maybe more. Julie and I used to be as thick as thieves when we were both grad students at St. John’s University in Queens, doing our DA in English, and taking our Comprehensive (Comps) exams together. We studied together, shared notes and research material, planned our study programs and the material we would cover. We spoke to each other on the phone (land line, mind you—in those days there were no I-phones), at least three times a day. And, yes, we did pass our exams together.

I went on to a blissfully happy academic career as a professor at NYU, but Julie chose to veer away from academia and entered the world of hi-tech, digital education. Her work took her all over the US and was varied and challenging and deeply fulfilling—not to mention lucrative. While I was aware, in the back of my mind of her work and her success, somehow, we lost touch (I am quite ashamed to say). It was only in recent times, thanks to Linked In and the fact that Lew found her on it, that we reconnected, exchanged a few email messages, spoke on the phone (long conversations) a few times and then resolved to meet when I arrived in the US.

Julie has been closely in touch with another one of the friends with whom I was also close, another SJU classmate, Linda Reesamn, who also earned her DA degree, stayed in an academic career at Queensboro College and is still teaching. I told her to bring Linda along to our meeting and I have to tell you that for the three of us, it was absolute joy to meet again after so long. Yes, as always happens with close friends who share bonds of deep affection, the years simply melted away and we were chattering away, with no discomfort or inhibitions whatsoever, as if we had met everyday over the past thirty years!

Bar Frites was crowded that Saturday morning with tons of people having lunch on a very warm Fall afternoon. Julie knows the staff there (she is apparently a regular) and we had superb service. Although they had started with drinks, I could murder for a cocktail (and having just returned from Italy), I quickly ordered a Negroni (delicious and super refreshing). Llew had a glass of Cabernet. The gals had also ordered lunch—but we merely nibbled as we knew that our friend Doreen had lunch awaiting us. There was ciabatta bread with the most wonderful spread (I would kill for that recipe) and it was hard to restrain ourselves from nibbling on it. There was also pizza and pasta and indeed since the occasion called for a feast, a feast was what we had. Needless to say, we took a whole load of pictures because we do not know when the three of us will be together again—it was important to immortalize the moments. Then, we bid each other goodbye and promised to stay in touch and not wait for another 25 years to get together. And on that promising note, we left.

Next Stop—Lunch in Syosset:

It took us another half hour to drive to Syosset but, as expected, our friends Doreen and John were waiting for us with a hearty and most delicious Italian lunch: Lasagne and a Caprese salad to which we did great justice. Needless to say, we were just delighted to see them again as the last time had been early this year in Bombay when they had visited India and made our home their base for a few days. We could not stop nattering as we ate, sipped and then started to make plans for the afternoon. They idea had been to do a wine tasting at a local vineyard…but those happened to be quite a long drive away and we began to consider closer possibilities. Finally, the plan was to go to Tanger Outlets (not too far away) as outlet shopping at Clinton Crossing in Connecticut had been on the cards for us!

Outlet Shopping at Tanger Outlets:

It was not even a half hour drive to Tanger Outlets. And oh what a blast we had as we shopped to our heart’s desire! Yes, there were some items on our shopping list (a new pair of sneakers for me—I bought a size larger from Nike and I’m glad I did as thy fit much more comfortably); Pine scented candle from Yankee Candle Company for the holidays, bags of Lindt dark chocolate truffles to give away as gifts in India, and, quite unexpectedly, a new pair of Birkenstocks for me—this was not on the cards as I never manage to find my size in the designs I Like—well, this time I was lucky and Birks at 50% discount is almost unheard of. So, how thrilled I was with the new pair. Llew bought a couple of clothing items and then we were done. I love outlet shopping in the States as the prices are always considerably lower than retail (unlike in the UK, where the outlet prices are almost on par with regular rates—I had been once to Bicester Outlets near Oxford and had been super disappointed—I did not buy a thing)! So, outlet shopping ticked off the To-Do List, we were able to get back home to Syosset for a really nice dinner.

Dinner with the Bellomos and the Walthers in Syosset:

Doreen and John had thought about all of us going off for dinner to a restaurant somewhere—but, on second thoughts, they decided to host a diner at their place and to invite our other friends, Alan and Anita Walther, to join us too. In the years when we lived in Connecticut, we’d often make a six-some as we partied together. It was, therefore, especially nice to be together again here in the Bellomos’ home.

Outside on their deck, we were able to enjoy their brand-new gas table-top fireplace which was especially welcome as the evenings are already pretty chilly here on the East Atlantic coast and we were grateful for the warmth. Doreen brought us a selection of nibbles but the piece de resistance was a magnificent tray of prawn cocktails that she brought out too. As we nibbled on a platter of antipasto (cheese, olives, charcuterie), we chatted companionably. Their backyard was the perfect outdoor space in which to enjoy a lovely evening. Later on, we went indoors to the living room and continued with the chatter while Doreen who is a hostess par excellence (as is John who made sure our glasses were kept full), busied herself in the kitchen and got the table organized.

Then, it was time to eat and Doreen outdid herself. There were all of Ina Garten’s show stoppers waiting to be devoured: Boeuf Bourguignon, Chicken Picata, Potato and Fennel Au Gratin, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, an abundant salad. Oh yes, we did eat well and had seconds too, but remembered to leave room for dessert: the Walthers had brought a wonderful Apple Crumb Pie which we devoured with French Vanilla Ice-Cream. As I relished all these generous meals, so thoughtfully presented by our friends, I have to say that the thought crossed my mind that the weighing scale would be completely out of whack by the time I returned to Bombay.

At the end of a really amazing day, Llew and I bid Doreen and John goodnight and went upstairs to our room as we were spending the night with them instead of driving back to Connecticut at that late hour. We were really grateful for their hospitality and looked forward to a well-earned night of slumber.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…