Dinner With Friends

 

    The weather is getting better. People are getting vaccinated. Things are inching toward "normal". Last evening C and I did something we have not done for a very long time. We had dinner at a friends' house. Since everyone is vaccinated (or nearly so) we were able to gather without masks. 

    I don't like to come to anyone's house empty handed so we picked up some flowers at a grocery store.  As we had not been to their house in a long time we got directions from C's phone. The phone directed us to come in a way that neither of us knew. The phone said we were at the right house, but it didn't look right. We had allowed ourselves some extra time in case traffic was bad so we were not late. C called Evan to ask for some directions. It turned out that we had turned one cul de sac too soon. we found their driveway and pulled in. We were greeted warmly at the door by Evan and his wife Mary.

   Their house had not changed. It was beautifully decorated and spotless, but still looked like a place where people actually lived. We went into the kitchen and sat down. Mary had some cream cheese with hot pepper jelly, a chicken chopped salad, homemade bread and raspberry jam that she made herself.

   Evan blessed the food and we ate. While we ate we chatted. We talked about the pandemic and vaccines. We talked about our jobs and where we went to school. We didn't discuss some current events. It was so nice to discuss things like baseball. Normal stuff. I enjoyed every minute of it.

   After dinner and dessert we sat in the living room. C spotted a guitar. Mary asked if he wanted to play. C picked it up and tuned it. He started singing the song he wrote for our wedding. Then he played Grandma's Featherbed, a John Denver song. I joined him on another Denver classic, Saturday Night in Toledo Ohio. We talked a little more. It was starting to get late. I suggested C play one more song and then we would go home. He played a song that he had written. It was a perfect end to the evening.

   Mary gave us a serving of the salad because it was a big batch, some of the bread and jam to take home. As we drove back, we both talked about what a good time we had. The past year and few months has reminded us to be grateful for things we used to take for granted, like dinner with friends.