Newsletter 2.17

My Parents are great.

Within 20 minutes of a first conversation with me you will 110% hear:

“My mom is a nutritionist.” (She is my inspiration.)

or

“My dad was a NYC firefighter. He was at 9/11.” (He is my hero.)

or

“I have a lot of cousins, we’re all close.”

The list goes on. But the main point being:

I have a big family, we’re all close, and I really appreciate them.

Something I don’t take for granted are the acts my parents do and gifts I receive— although, I’m sure I could verbalize this more :)

My mom gave me a panini press when I moved into my first city apartment.

I’ve had the press for years now. It’s the same one we used as kids.

Truthfully, it is a hand-me-down panini press.

In the last two months alone, I have hosted FOUR panini parties.

I invite over whomever, grab some gluten free bread and middle ingredients and just say “BYOB, panini party tomorrow- be here at 7”

And, let me tell you!

I haven’t met a panini party I didn’t like.

My mom always exclaims food is a way to bring people together.

You can make whatever. It doesn’t have to be complex. But good food and laughs are always a great mix.

My dad is great at conversation… or improvised stand up. Eddie O is never quiet at a party…

Anyways, this panini press had become a tool kit for community building. A way for me to orchestrate, at a small level, events for meeting and introducing others.

Friendships have come from these panini parties that we’re not there beforehand.

I love throwing them so much I figured- let’s honor this Panini press my parents gave me and open up an invite.

So- the first 5 people to respond to this email are invited to a panini party.

It will be so much fun and I can assure you: you will laugh, learn and definitely leave full!

See y’all soon. And, I’ll see some of y’all for our run tomorrow.

xx

Caite