It snowed on the 23rd. Not for very long, but we got enough snow to call it "measurable"....
It was cold that day. I was quite chilly when I came home from walking Willard Burton (but he was happy to wander around in the back yard for a while, checking on the scents, after we got home).
The evening of the 23rd, we went downtown. Friends had arranged dinner at Lena's for a varied group of their friends.
I lobbied for not walking downtown, given how cold it was (and windy -- did I say it was windy?). We walked anyway, and it was fine. It makes a big difference if you walk briskly, rather than pausing for a (lengthy) while at every tree (or pile of leaves, or street sign, or tall clump of grass....).
The company at dinner was excellent, and the food, likewise. (I'm sure the wine was terrific, too, but it's lost on me......)
The food was interesting and varied as well as delicious. I think my very favorite thing was Ecuadorian Humitas ("fresh corn cakes with lemongrass-tomato stew and melted queso fresco"). Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
It was interesting to find out how we all had come to know our hosts, and to find out more about each other's lives. My better half and I felt rather provincial -- others came from Brazil and India and the UK, and we came from ... Michigan. Others have Czech son-in-laws and Chinese grandchildren. Our daughter is from ... Michigan. Our hosts were/are college professors, and many of our fellow guests were/are academics. There was talk about food, and academic politics, and gardens, and travel.....
A very enjoyable evening.
We were surprised, when it was time to go home, to find that there was more than an inch of snow on the sidewalk. (It wasn't snowing at all when we went downtown.) We were pressed to accept the kind offer of a ride home, but chose to walk. It was rather nice, despite the cold. The wind had died down, and the snow was pretty.......
My brother and sister-in-law have had dinner with the same group of friends, once a month, for decades. Maintaining friendships takes effort, and I'm sure that I ought to be putting more thought and energy into that area of life.........
I am grateful for my friends, and should do a better job of demonstrating that.....
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2 comments:
"My brother and sister-in-law have had dinner with the same group of friends, once a month, for decades."
Just last night, in fact. This coming January will be the start of our 28th year.
Exceedingly admirable! :-) I wish I did a better job of following your good example!
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