See you soon

It's been a while since I visited this page. A record break for me. No reason, really. Just occupied with other things. I'll try to catch us up. Hope you had a wonderful holiday, a great start to the new year and have found joy in the bleakness of February if you're in a cold weather state. If you're in a warm weather state, well, I will still like you but I'll like you better when the thaw comes here.

Since our last confab via the blogosphere: 

The Captain, Ali and I resumed our Christmas tradition of going home to Maine for the holidays but added a new twist of starting off with a day for just the three of us in downtown Portland. We had potato donuts, an amazing meal at a famous place on the water whose name I have since forgotten. 

It was terrific to be in Maine, as always, but disappointing in that Gary was in the hospital and off-limits to visitors. He's better now and in a new care facility, and we'll likely see him this summer. 

Auntie Jen broke out Gary's old saxophone that Jeff played in high school. Jeff, Jen and James all played the instrument in high school, and Jen plays in her church holiday orchestra. Once Jeff remembered how to make a note, he squeaked out a few bars of the Sound of Music's "Do Re Mi" song that no one needs to hear again. We had a good time making fun of him, though, so it was well worth it.

We came home to a COVID scare that turned out to be an inconvenience, but a non-starter as far as the sickness went, thank goodness. The family trip to get tested was a good bonding experience.

We had a great time with Ali home from school, but she's back in West Lafayette for the last semester of her junior year. She's doing well, scored big at Christmas and now has more boots in more colors than I have underwear. Most of them have at least 3-inch heels. I think she's smart enough to keep them on the shelf until the snow clears.

She's doing well in a new apartment and is grateful every day that she now has a car to get her to and fro.

Like the rest of the world, we are seriously tired of COVID but (like most of our friends) trying to still be smart by being vaxxed and boosted, wearing masks and staying away from big crowds.

At one point, one of my dear friends, Tina Noel, had a big birthday, and we thought there would be a party. Omicron popped up to delay it, but none of us wanted to to let the big day pass, so we gathered in her front yard just to mark the moment. 

Those are the kinds of friends you want in your life.

I've said this before, but we are incredibly blessed with good friends. Last weekend, we were just hanging around and Jeff and Susan called. They were down the street at dinner and wondered if we want to join them.  Normally, I'd have been down to Diavola in a shot, but Becca and I were in the middle of what may be the best pot of mac-n-cheese I've ever made, so we had to demur.. Instead, we asked them to stop by for a planned drink we never got to as we gabbed and caught up. 

At nearly the same time, Jeff's beer buddy, John and his fiance, Jonathan, dropped in for a tiny beer share. It was almost a normal kind of weekend.

Then, in another moment where we are more fortunate than we deserve, we saw Eric Church downtown Indy with the Seiwerts. 

It was tremendous and our seats were away from the crowd so we didn't worry that much about COVID. 

The night was great for a lot of reasons including the fact that neither Sherry nor the Captain are country music fans. Andy  is a Renaissance Man: he likes a lot of things, is super handy and is an Eric Church fan like me. He and I were mesmerized. I don't know what Jeff and Sherry did during the concert, but I don't think they were leaning over the edge and nodding along so much that our necks hurt the next day. (Mine did, anyway; I dunno about Andy.)

Our anniversary is coming up, so the house is full of the smell of Star Gazer lilies and the prospect of champagne and good food. 

We kind of started early and are dragging it out a while, helped along with our friend Peter who gave us some awesome red wines and will introduce us to some more this week. In between, we'll have a special bottle of champagne, a nice dinner out and probably some interaction with good friends.

Because when you have friends, you should find a way to celebrate with them. Whether that's a casual pasta dinner, a quick hello or a VIP night with a superstar.

2022 is going to be the year of saying yes to gathering with friends and family. 

See you soon.