Sunday, March 04, 2018

Day Brightener on a drizzly day


Mel, Eden, and Jamie, cozy in the cottage


A visit from the Frisco Alters (minus one) really brightened this rather discouraging day. They were missing our sweet Maddie, who is in Boulder at school. But we celebrated, late, sweet Eden’s fifteenth birthday (last Monday). She is already thinking about schools and floored everyone by saying she didn’t have to go to school in this country. Her dad said she should go wherever she wants, but her mom begged for time saying maybe stay within range the first year. I suggested Canada as a compromise and tonight wrote her about Queens and McMaster. She has long had her hopes fixed on NYU, where an uncle is on the faculty. I also understand she has her hopes pinned on a mini-Cooper. She got her learner’s permit first the thing the morning of her birthday. These days they don’t teach driver’s ed in schools (a pity) but she has taken six online hours for credit and now practices with parental supervision. Her mom predicts she’ll be a good driver.

Since they were arriving around eleven (actually made it close to eleven-thirty), I “went to church” via the livestreaming. I was glad to be virtually there, but the music is never as glorious between the computer and my hearing aids.

We went to Twig at Clearfork for lunch, and I have to say lunch with my son is an experience. He orders generously—appetizers for the table were calamari with artichoke hearts (an odd combination but good), a flatbread, and French fries with gorgonzola fondue—loved that fondue! Jamie ordered fish and chips, Christian and I had hamburgers, and Mel and Jordan had steak salad—I should have followed their lead. I made a bigger show than I usually do of wanting no bacon and rare burger—it was well done but did have good flavor. I wouldn’t have complained, but when I went to the restroom the kids told on me, and the restaurant sent me home with a whole new burger, rare. I haven’t looked yet to see how rare it really is.

Desserts, like appetizers, for the table: drunken donuts, which I didn’t try but others said were very rich and good; they came with a chocolate, a butterscotch, and what appeared to be a vanilla sauce. Then there was a crème brulee and a generous piece of lemon cheesecake. I zeroed in on the crème brulee.

It was a leisurely lunch with lots of laughter and fun, and we were all overfed when we came home. The Frisco family stayed a while, Jamie played his guitar, and then they left, everyone having plans to watch the Oscars—which barely interest me. Usually not at all, but tonight I think there will be commentary that I will appreciate. Kimmel has said he won’t go too political, but we’ll see. After everyone left, I took a nap, and then, bam!, it was dinnertime.

It’s nice when one outstanding event sort of fills a whole day. I loved it. Tomorrow, back to work and routine.

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