There is something about seeing old friends that is fortifying and grounding like little else can be. It gives continuity and normalcy and perspective, all useful in a year that has been most un-normal. Seeing the Pauls was grounding, normalizing and as always, brought a lot of good laughs
They all seemed so well. Gloriann and of us women commiserated on Covid hair. John and April shared insights on academics, and we collectively threw up our metaphorical hands about the impossibility of balancing parenting and working well. Stan filled us in on what he’s been reading lately. It has something to do with advances in neuroscience but I can’t pretend I understood anything he said about it.
The food was a feast, needless to say. There were two elegant salads, one celebrating grapefruit and feta and goddess dressing (April); a delectable au gratin potato dish (Stan), Good Earth bakery baguette (John), sausages and grilled veggies kabob style AND grilled pineapple (Doug), and not one but two lemon meringue pies (Mom). Not to be biased, but my mother’s lemon meringue pies are incomparable. Even Stan agreed. And I set a mean table, a critical contribution.
Seeing these friends who have been in the center of my heart since I walked the curb the day before second grade started, was a gift. It was like being handed an emerald after a year of sitting under raining gravel.
@theterrace 