It is the first Saturday in April of 2020. Brainy Bird is finishing up his assignments for the week. Little Chirp is relaxing in front of his computer with all of the cats snuggled up next to him. Potatoe is laying by my feet.
On this day last year, my biggest concern was the Astros’ losing streak. Like many, I am missing sports. I could not have imagined a spring without March Madness and opening day of MLB. I did not have to imagine, so far 2020 has entailed both of these things.
Did you know that there is a play list called, Virtual Hug, on Amazon music? It is playing right now. I like having the sound to the news turned off on the weekends. Right now, What a Wonderful World, is playing. In his angelic voice, Louis Armstrong sings, “I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do,” Friends shaking hands would be nice to see right now.
I like thinking about the things that I am going to do when this is over. On the whole, I mostly think about not taking my life for granted ever again. I think about slowing down, stopping to take in the moment instead of running to the next thing as I always did before. I also think about seeing everyone again, and the places we will go.
I want to go with my boys and my friends, Kelli, Emily, Jan and Tim and everyone’s families to George’s. George’s is Kelli’s local favorite Italian place on her side of Houston, which she introduced us all to. Speaking of introductions, Kelli will bring Flo, and introduce her to us all. Maybe I will bring Potatoe, so that I have a plus one too. Going to George’s with Kelli makes one feel like a celebrity. They allow us to bring our own wine. I have a bottle of barolo and a bottle of Ferarri-Canano waiting for the day.
I will take forever to decide what I want to order. Because it is on the opposite side of town for me, I do not get to eat at George’s that often. I can never decide whether to go the healthy route with one of their exquisite chicken and vegetable dishes, or if I should indulge in the pasta. Truthfully, I usually order both. There is a skinny girl inside of me, and she is begging for wine, marina sauce and homemade bread.
Kelli will share with us the stories of her adventures in California and how she and Flo met. Emily will tell us about homeschool, and Vanessa’s face will light up when we talk about going back to school in the fall. Jan will share with us her latest photography work, and Tim will tell us about his latest carpentry project. Ash will sit back and take it all in as she always does. I will sit back with her. Little Chirp will come up with some crazy question to ask the adults under the guise of being a “stupid little kid”. No one is actually buying Little Chirp’s little kid act anymore, but it will make us all laugh, nonetheless. Brainy Bird will be focused on his fried mozzarella, while laughing along with the conversation, adding an anecdote here and there.
After we eat, Little Chirp will convince all the kids that they need to go to a nearby locally owned dessert shop. None of the adults will object because that means that we will have another glass of wine together at George’s, while the kids trek to the dessert place. Wine has long been one of the crowd’s favorites. I have so many memories of this crew from happy hours, to backyard gatherings to fine dining.
It is the little things in life…