AN EVENING WITH SPECIAL FRIENDS

Recently, three friends from my church joined me for dinner at the restaurant in my condo community. This restaurant that caters to the community opens for dinner two evenings per week: Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday was chosen because it was convenient for all of us. After we were all seated, checked the menu and placed our orders, we selected our choices from the salad bar. The waitress was a bit clumsy but courteous and polite. The ambiance was warm and friendly with moderate chatter and the laughter that emanated from the surrounding tables was an indication that the diners were happily enjoying their meals.

We feasted on boiled salmon, blackened snapper, fried chicken, fried shrimp, mixed vegetables and baked and mashed potatoes. The meal was scrumptious and the conversations we engaged in were interesting and enlightening. Our discussions ranged from politics to current events, to Florida's unusually cold weather and the many antics we were involved in as children growing-up in our respective countries, [Guyana and Jamaica]. Heavy doses of laughter were mixed in with many stories told. This provided a chance for us to get to know each other better.

After dinner, we repaired to my condo for a taste of my "homemade" pina colada. And there the conversations continued in a much warmer and relaxed atmosphere. Because the evening was quite chilly, we stayed inside instead of sitting by the pool, as we had originally planned. I gave the guided tour of my condo and proudly showed-off my collection of lighted houses, which included two houses with Victorian figurines ball room dancing and one house [a recent addition] had Elvis playing the guitar at Graceland while singing "Santa bring my baby back to me." It was such a dancing tune that one friend immediately started dancing to the music, which had us all laughing as we watched him gyrating to the music. I have seen him on the dance floor before and he is a fabulous dancer. I called him "hoofer" and modern day Fred Astaire. Oh, yes, he can really dance.

The evening was a great success. We all had a wonderful time. "Let's do this again, soon," I said to them, as they were leaving. And they all agreed in unison. Now my mind is racing with ideas for the next one.