Good friends and good food

I feel sort of sad for the football player with his imaginary girlfriend and his being 'found out' with this supposed hoax. Or was it a hoax, or a lie he just couldn't stop telling? Anyway, I have many 'Friends' via Facebook whom I have never physically met and I am going on trust that they actually exist. Most of them are shared with mutual friends who do exist, so I feel pretty confident about them. 

The ones I am Friends with off-line as well I know exist (at least in my world!) and it's great to get and give hugs when seeing them in the flesh. This happened for me when in WI and I got to see many of those FB friends, and sing with them in church, or sit across a table during Bible study, or share a meal with them. Or, wave at each other across a crowded theater before a sacred concert.

At The Club the other night I got to share a hug one of my local FB Friends who serves on the Board. We had our annual member's meeting and Kat greeted me when I came in. She had left a comment on my status the day before when I wrote about Brenda and I having lunch together, remarking we were two of her favorite people. Of course, being in real estate, these ladies know each other---again, shared friendships!

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After work Wednesday, Justin stopped at Walgreen's and got the 'cheap' soda, Diet Pepsi. Not my first choice but the price is right. When I came in from the meeting, he greeted me at the door and said, "Close your eyes and hold out your hand---palm down." This meant it was not more Easter eggs...He sprayed my hand and told me to sniff it. It seems he found this knock-off of Obsession, my perfume of choice. He was so pleased to have gotten it for $12 for 'this big bottle!' when I pay that much for the little bottle which fits in my travel case. The scent is very similar to the real thing as far as I can tell, and he was so pleased to have gotten it for me, I can't help but wear it sometimes! He is such a sweetheart...

Today we had a very enjoyable and beneficial Bible study. Using Advent yet as the theme of the study, we discussed intimacy in relationships. Each chapter usually begins with a hymn stanza or two, which in the past we have sung a capella, but today we did not sing it. The hymn was "Of the Father's Love Begotten" which may have been more difficult to do. The text is rich, however, and had more impact in reading it than singing, I believe.

To begin the 'conversation' we went around the table giving the name of the person we consider our best friend. First Judy listed Lucy, who was sitting across the table from us, and then it was my turn. "Linda!", and Pastor nodded, as he expected that to be my answer. 

My friend, Linda

One lady flatly and matter-of-factly said she had no one close enough to her (or she allowed close enough) to be considered her best friend, not even her husband. Gulp! One lady has a twin sister with whom she is most intimately connected, as Pastor said, they shared a womb! This tied perfectly into the story of when Mary went to see Elizabeth, and how John leapt in her womb upon hearing Mary's voice, the mother of his Savior. Very cool! 

We discussed the relationship between Mary and her cousin, and between the two pre-born babies who would forever change the world. One would preach repentance and the other bring salvation...Like Justin said the other day, he would come to this class every day if he could!

The folks, or many of them, were going to a bbq place for lunch and asked me to join them. Sometimes I do go along but today was not one of them. I decided to go home and eat my leftovers. Once home, I fired up the computer, and then reheated the last of my delicious (if I do say so myself!) sloppy joes for lunch. 

No sooner did I start scooping it into my mouth, I got an instant message from Lee. She said she knew I had been at Bible study and it was short notice but did I want to have lunch at The Club? Sure!!! I put my plate in the fridge and put my shoes back on. Away I went! There is a mini-buffet on Thursdays, and this week was home-made pizza, pasta casserole, and WI cheese soup. Heaven! 

My friend, Lee

Wednesday night was a meeting of The Club members where we could offer our input into happenings, events, and menus, etc. I had written to Chef last week about the sliders and he assured me they would be back. During the meeting, the staff circulated with trays of appetizers for the members. Nothing they brought around was something I would eat but after the meeting, Chef came to me and whispered, "I have some beef coming out for you shortly..." 

The waiter came through with tiny Chinese take-out boxes which had mini-meat loaves, cut up, with onion straws on top. Yum! I though this was what Chef meant and I had two of these little treats. 

I had started to say good-bye to those around me, refusing a refill of my soda glass. Well, here came Chef with a rectangular shaped plate holding several of the mini-meat loaves not cut up, covered with a wine-flavored gravy, and roasted potatoes. No one else got that, only me! When Julius saw that he asked, "You want a refill now, don't you?", and I did! Carol was seated next to me and I asked Julius to get her a fork, so she could help me. Talk about delicious, and talk about being spoiled!

Today, Chef had the Hostess send a large foam cup of the WI beer cheese soup home with me. That will be my dinner and I look forward to enjoying that later on. I have such good friends, real ones, like Lee, and the ones I have never met but extend their hugs and good thoughts to me through this sometimes difficult week. 

People can be nice even if they have no idea what is going with someone, and that matters greatly! Go, and do thou likewise!