Enjoying Mat Maessen’s Birthday Party at Sushi X

Let me make things perfectly clear.  If you’ve ever done something for me – something unexpected and unrequested and kind and considerate, something that just completely made my lousy day just a little bit brighter – then you are my friend.

Which is why, when I received the invitation from Kari Vanalstine to visit the restaurant Sushi X in Latham to celebrate her guy Mat Maessen’s 37th birthday, well heck yeah I’m going.

A little background.

It’s Christmastime, 2010.  I’m newly separated and am living on my own in my new apartment.  I’ve tried to take my mind off this bad dose of holiday blues, this mistletoe malaise of spending the holidays by my solitary self.  I did get some text messages wishing me a happy holiday – from my daughter Cassaundra, and then from my trivia teammates Jeremy and Alexis – and I tried to countermand the loneliness by taking one of my film cameras for a photo excursion – on Christmas Day, no less – in the hopes that my spirits would improve.

No such luck.

But there was one glimmer of brightness on what would have been the most depressing day I’ve experienced.

Mat Maessen and Kari Vanalstine invited me – as well as several other friends and compatriots – to Christmas dinner at their Colonie home.

When I arrived at the house, they welcomed me, they made me feel at home, we (and another guest) all had Christmas dinner and played games on the Nintendo Wii and it just felt great. For a few hours, the holiday blues were just a tint less blue.

I should mention that Mat is a photography buff as well, and when I mentioned I was shooting the final rolls of Kodachrome, he brought up a bagful of unopened Kodachrome packets.  “How many do you want?” he asked.  I said two would be fine.  And in fact, one of those rolls became the final roll of Kodachrome film I ever shot.

The party was at Latham’s new eatery Sushi X, and although I’m not a “sushi” person, I did eat the rock shrimp and yes it was divine – so divine, in fact, that I ordered a second portion.  Mmmm…

And it was also great to spend time with nice people like Mat and Kari and their friends.  Much thanks to Mat and Kari for their hospitality and for inviting me to the party.  They are good people.