Patti, Elise and Ellen

Once upon a time, there were three women (actually, there were four, but one was booted out for not being a “team player”). These three women- Elise, Ellen, and Patti- had a bond not uncommon among women- strong, unfaltering, and able to withstand men coming and going, children arriving and growing up, and other minor and major disruptions and blessings in life.

They met at work, when they were in their late teens and early twenties, and immediately bonded. In their late 20s, they decided that they needed a weekend away from husbands, children, and jobs, so they started the GACCWE (Girls Annual Cape Cod Weekend), and traveled from New Jersey to the Cape to enjoy a long weekend without the above mentioned and including eating non-stop, drinking quite a bit, and endless shopping at every Christmas Tree Shop they came upon. It was a good thing.

Then, when Patti was 46, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. But it was OK- all three of them knew that many women make it through breast cancer, and go on to live long, healthy, productive lives. So she underwent chemotherapy, and lost her glorious hair, but all were optimistic, because nothing could ever happen to Patti. They went on the GACCWE as usual, but had to postpone it a few weeks to coincide with when Patti would feel OK. She went with her wig on (and off), and shopped heartily at the Christmas Tree Shop and took walks on the beach for as long as she could. And the girls eagerly planned their 20th anniversary GACCWE next year, when they would take an extra-long weekend and spend the first night at Newport, which they all loved very much.

But Patti didn’t make it to that 20th anniversary weekend- the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, and then to her liver, and on April 16th, the day after Easter, she succumbed to this terrible disease that is afflicting so many women today. It was the 5-year anniversary of her death this year, but the pain hasn’t lessened nor has her memory faded for any of the owners of Cape Cup. But Patti is looking down and watching us, and what she sees is good.

Whenever you see anything on our menu with the breast cancer symbol, you will know that it was a favorite recipe of Patti’s, and 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.