Marcia's Pots

Today's monumental traffic jam was book-ended by pleasant events, so I survived the road rage fairly well.

The day began with coffee with Steve and Marcia in their pleasant kitchen. We discussed last night's gathering of the book group, recapping with the thought that we are none of us getting any younger. The cranky ones are crankier, the outspoken ones are more outspoken, the organized ones are more organized and succinct than ever. As usual, the hostess (Marcia) didn't have any idea who was coming, because people didn't read their email or forgot what it said in the intervening weeks, assumed that everyone would know they were coming, or called at the last minute to say they were coming. One elderly member has not been heard from in awhile and there is concern about her.In the end, there were 13 of us, about the same number as always.

The dinner, a slow cooked lamb dish with a complex sauce of orange, onion and cinnamon, a luscious salad with a curry spiked dressing, and apple and pear pies was delicious, and the discussion of the book , once we got around to it, was good. Marcia and I had discussed getting up at 9pm and announcing to the group that we were going to bed, and although we enjoyed the idea, we didn't have to resort to such tactics as the last guest left at about 10. Just like old times., only maybe a little earlier....

I took my leave from Steve and Marcia and headed home. It was not the smooth ride it could have been, since an accident closed the freeway for a time, and there is endless construction in the few remaining places that used to be something of a break from the grinding traffic. In fact, for awhile it was a parking lot where I sat, stuck behind a huge truck. At least there was an interesting discussion on the radio "Science Friday" about the search for evidence of life in other parts of the universe.

When I finally got home, OilMan suggested lunch at our favorite winery/deli down the road. We sat in the sun, ate our lunch, had our personal bottle filled with the house red wine, and felt smug about being recognized as being returning locals amongst a bunch of tourists....