The family gathered this morning for a joint celebration of Father’s Day and Maya’s birthday. When Kyle and Nico were young, we had a Saturday ritual called Boy’s Breakfast. The three of us would go to the Club Car Cafe in West Concord, mere feet from the railway tracks and station. When given the opportunity to pick a place to eat out for Father’s Day, it was my first choice. I strongly associate this restaurant with fond memories of fatherhood. Every time we came, I ordered the same breakfast meal and was given the same choice of bread for toast. Each time, I would ask if they had sourdough toast. Each time they would inform me that they did not. After the first few times, this routine became a source of great embarrassment for the boys and amusement for me. I argued that they would eventually start offering sourdough bread if I kept asking for it. Anticipating that I would again request sourdough bread today, Kyle purchased a sliced loaf and asked our server to prepare it for me. Best toast I have ever had! After breakfast, we all drove over to the River House and bid it farewell. Demolition is scheduled for next Tuesday.

After our farewell gathering, everyone headed off in different directions. Nicolai loaded the kayaks for an outing with one of his friends in New Hampshire. Jeanine and Maya headed into Boston for lunch with my niece Rachel for a further birthday celebration. I joined Kyle at his Medford home where we installed a new exterior door from the basement to his garage.