This month the Romeo gang met for lunch at Lucciano’s Restaurant in Londonderry, NH. The restaurant was suggested by Joe P. since he has family who live nearby. The drive up north was easy along Rte 93. You could see the foliage change as you drove further north. Along the way I saw a flock of geese heading south. Maybe they have the right idea. I arrived at the restaurant shortly before noon as others also arrived.The Romeos present were: Peter Gabriel, Jim Terlizzi, Mark Ryan, Paul Girard, Joe LoDuca, Joe Lapiana, Steve Winter, Joe Pignatiello, Ed Deschytner, and Joe Balsama. You can see photos of the group at the link …… http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo102709?authkey=Gv1sRgCI-71LLijKKqeA#
We all strolled inside and sat at a long table against the wall. The waitress greeted us and took drink orders. Shortly after we read the menu and made our selections. You can see the menu and other info at the link ….. http://www.luccianos.com/. The lunch menu offered pasta dishes, calzones, paninis, pizza and subs at great prices.
Although this was the lunch menu, the portion sizes were huge and served on big dinner plates. Some of us also ordered garden salads that could have been a meal itself. Not only were the portions big but the food was just great. We all ate about half our meals and were just stuffed and brought the rest home in a foam cartons. Later, we had coffee and dessert and continued the conversation. The waitress brought extra spoons so we could share the dessert.
As always the conversation was great, funny and informative. We talked about the economy, job layoffs and the value of the dollar. Joe Lod. was going on a two week cruise to the Mediterranean. Jim T. said he was planning a seven day island cruise out of Miami for about $700, if anyone was interested.
The conversation shifted to current wages, health insurance, deductibles and medications. Is that what “old” people talk about? I said that I saw an ad for a social studies teacher in Wakefield with a salary range of $42,000 to $72,000. That seems pretty good these days. I also saw in a book that I am reading about current day Vietnam, that the average wage there was $300 a year. I know it is all relative but why is there such a contrast? I sure am glad to be retired but hope that the cost of living doesn’t out strip my pension. I hope I can afford buying a gallon of milk a hundred years from now. Ha Ha.
I talked with Paul G. about getting ice cream at Richardson in Middleton where people also stopped to buy gallons of milk. Paul said the West Lynn Creamery was also a good place but recently changed names. Joe Lap. said he saw the new name but couldn’t think of it. Joe B. said he knew but had a brain freeze. Fifteen minutes later Joe B. said that Garelic Farms bought up the West Lynn Creamery. As you can see, the conversations get real intellectual, the older you get.
Later, suggestions were asked for next month’s lunch. Joe B. suggested a Greek restaurant in Waltham, MA called the Athenia. Jim T. will send out info later.
Comments and suggestion are welcome. Email to markryan82@comcast.net
