We often don't appreciate what we have until we no longer have it. The good news is, once restored, we no longer take it for granted. This is especially true when personal freedom is snatched away, often without warning.
After a year-and-a-half of necessary isolation, masks, and social distancing, the freedom to invite friends into our homes is a never-again-take-for-granted blessing. So is meeting with others and going out to lunch (while following safety guidelines). Gone are the prison bars that isolated us from family, friends, and small groups.
My dear friend Sandy Nachlinger came to see me yesterday. Not bundled up in my unheated garage, along with others in my writers' critique group, but in my house. We later headed for lunch at a favorite Auburn, Washington restaurant. Uh-oh. No cars in the parking lot. Closed for repairs until 4 P.M. Plan B needed.
Only half-serious, I suggested a special seafood restaurant on the waterfront several miles away. Sandy laughed and said, "Why not?" Off we went, rejoicing all the way about actually feeling free and safe to follow our spur-of-the moment idea.
Approximately a half-hour later, we arrived at Anthony's HomePort in Des Moines. It felt like coming home. Starting in the late 1970s, Anthony's was our family's go-to place for birthdays, when out-of-town relatives visited, or when we simply wanted excellent seafood. So many memories. So many Sunset Dinners. So much laughter and joy that echoes through the years and gladdens my heart.
The kids are now grown, have families of their own, and live elsewhere. I hadn't been to Anthony's in years. Thankfully, it had not changed. The sunny day, food, and service surpassed everything I expected. Sandy and I looked down on the marina with dozens of boats, and across the water to forest-clad islands. Our conversation shifted between serious and silly. We had the waitress take our picture and decided our first spur-of-the-moment venture would not be the last.
Carpe diem [seize the day]
This was the farthest I had been away from home in well over a year. I savored every bite of food, every mile going and coming, every moment with Sandy--and discovered it is also one of her favorite restaurants.
If you are feeling stressed, pressed, depressed, or just need time out, call a good friend, drop everything, and run away from home. All you have to lose is the blues.
We did.
👩 👧
Give thanks today for those who bought our freedom, often at a great price.
Colleen
5 comments:
Thanks for sharing a fun day with me, Colleen. Where are we going next?
We will have to think about that, but, we will be going! YAY.
Since we both like a variety of food, we won't run out of possibilities. GRIN.
Lovely post; lovely ladies (:
Thank you for sharing your special day with me. It is a pleasure getting to know you. And yes, indeed, we must be very grateful to those soldiers years and years ago who fought for our freedom during the revolutionary war. They were brave men who wanted liberty.
Thanks, Judy and Linda. I appreciate your taking time to comment.
Post a Comment