Christmas with The Marshalls

James, Davy, Mark and Susan O'Hennesshey, Janice, Deanna, & Bill Marshall; seated-Miriam Anderson, Betty, Ralph, & Elizabeth Marshall (photo by Harold O'Hennesshey)

Walking through the threshold of 1490 Fitzpatrick Street, the aroma of Janice's Casserole mixed with oak paneling and Ralph's pipe would whisk around you like leaves caught in the winds of late autumn. In that precise moment, you knew you were home and in for one spectacular meal. Betty & Ralph Marshall always hosted Christmas Day, just so long as Betty didn't have to lift a finger. Of course that always meant that Susan, their eldest, would take complete control of all things edible. Sister-in-law Janice was second in command and always seen buzzing about the kitchen, incessantly puffing away on her Pall Mall while directing daughters, Deanna & Lizbeth, on how to set the perfect table.

Betty, Ralph, and the grandchildren, Davy, James, Harold, Deanna & Lizbeth

In the den, Betty and Ralph were listening intently to their oldest grandson, Harold, tell of his recent trip to Ireland. Mark stood in the dining room with Bill as they both talked to James about his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He just started classes in the fall and is on his way to becoming a successful architect. In the middle of this discussion, James gets dramatic and starts in on his Gary Cooper "Fountainhead" speech and has everyone howling out loud. Just as the laughter dies down, Susan decides to do her impression of Cary Grant in "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" and leaves everyone in a state of disbelief. She breaks up midway through while the men all applaud with Bill yelling, "Ladies and Gentlemen, my sister, Susan Beatrice." Mama Sue & Lil' Harold 

Dinnertime rolls around and everyone piles into the dining room. Ralph makes a toast in honor of all his many blessings: his wife of 54 years, their two children, Susan & William, their son and daughter-in-law, Mark & Janice, and their five wonderful grandchildren.

The meal is an absolute triumph and the conversation flows easily and lasts hours after all the food has been devoured. Each holiday season brings this tight knit family together for fabulous food, lots of laughter, and of course, unending amounts of love and thankfulness.

(A handful of years ago I was thrift shopping in Philly and bought an old mini photo album that contained these pictures. I instantly named them all and created a story about their family holiday together.)