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Hanging with the Ann/e’s

Déjà vu! This is just wild. Here I am at Cloud Nine, a resort-like residence in the foothills above Port Angeles with three of my very best girlfriends of all times.

Forty-some years ago, after epic shenanigans in Seattle and it’s gorgeous wilderness surroundings, we started having babies and settled on four different paths. We’ve had limited contact for decades.

Here though, we have reconvened with grace. We have picked up where we left off, so to speak. We have hiked. Shopped. Feasted. Wow, have we feasted! And the stories. Holy Mackerel! We’ve shown badges and revealed scars accumulated over precious lifetimes…amidst much laughter…and tears too.

It’s been movie-like. I’m thinking of the “Big Chill.” But it didn’t take a funeral to draw us together. Grateful to say, our magnetic love-fields in the land of the living are stronger than that.

Delightful Dementia

Have you ever played games with me? Then you know I’m competitive. A bit of a stickler for the rules too. Plus I know how to cheat. And, to my credit, I can choose a game that fits developmentally, for the youngsters at least.

But what about for the young-at-heart? And the young-in-mind? Is this proclivity transferable?

What does it take to loosen up and play with the elders? Let them skip turns? And really enjoy how they encourage each other with a “Good job!” every now and then. I even noticed when one of Mom’s friends remembered another detail about playing dominoes.

My need to control relaxed. So did my heart. “Cheating” at its best ruled the day.

After two-plus hours on the phone hunting down Mom’s delinquent 1099 and an appointment with her podiatrist, we definitely deserved a reward. Kid cones at Dick’s would not suffice.

So I introduced her to shrimp boats: open-faced white bread slathered with mayonnaise and piled high with crustaceans and leafy lettuce, all bathed in fresh dill and lemon juice.

After returning from Norway, I found the simple delicacy at Scandinavian Specialties in Ballard near Mom’s adult family home.

She lapped up every morsel. Who knew? I’d wager she likes the Lapland specialty as much as she adores ice cream and crab cakes.

We’ve had four delicious days of sunshine in a row, in March, here in the Pacific Northwest. Such that we have resurrected our outdoor cushions and side tables. We’ve enjoyed a few meals outside together too.

What could possibly be more scrumptious?

Returning books to the library at just the moment this jewel was shelved. Then reading it cover-to-cover in one sitting. Well, I did move from porch to deck to yard, stretched like a cat does, tinkled, and refilled my iced tea once or twice.