Always a Treat!

I am not complaining because I know how fortunate I am to get out as often as I do, but it had been a week since my last time out. You may also have noticed here that I am not getting out as often as I used to, which is a combination of there really is nothing to do, plus things I need to do for our household and of course, life. Here is a little story about some of the things that have prevented me from getting out.

I had set up a Happy Hour meeting with two of my great friends, a couple whom I met a few months back at my favorite restaurant. They asked me (that is highly unusual, I am usually the one asking others) to get together. We planned on Friday. I get home and go about getting ready. I get almost all of my makeup done, having applied mascara to one eye. My phone rings and things change. Dad needed to be taken to the ER. I won’t bore you with details, but I received the same call two weeks prior. So I told him I would pick him up in half an hour and all the work I had done to get ready had to be cleaned up, fast! So my outing had to be cancelled. Life again getting in the way!

Sadly, due to COVID protocols, that is probably the last time I will see him alive. Kandi is an oasis for me to escape the highs and lows of daily life, being her is always a high. That is for two reasons. One, being her is joyful, plain and simple. But also, if something were weighing on me, I simply would not get dressed. That is actually occurring as of the date this post runs. Life, circumstances and reality are all conspiring to keep Kandi idle right now.

Back to our story. A few days later on April 25, 2021, I was able to go out on a planned outing with my friends Sherry and Annie. Well, not as originally planned, but we were able to meet for dinner. Good enough for me!

We had planned on touring some local wineries, but Annie had to work and frankly the weather wasn’t that great, very cool. So my planned outfit, a cute spring dress and an even cuter denim jacket had to wait. Given the cool temps, I went with this sweater and leggings. I was quite pleased and very comfortable!

I honestly don’t believe there are two other people in the world that I could sit at a table with for four hours, completely at ease and it feels like an hour at most. We simply talked, enjoyed each other’s company and when we left, I was floored about how long we had been there. You have to understand, I am not good at sitting at a table for a long time. I have always had that problem, but this day, it was wonderful! Girls, I love you both so much and cannot believe my great fortune for knowing you.

It was a simple one stop outing, so I don’t have a long story here. Before we left, being the girls we are, we took some pictures!

If you want to go out, please try and get over the fear of the great unknown of being in public. It is awesome, life affirming and so special. I cannot think of anything that fills me with such personal joy and pride in myself. At least, that has been my experience.

This feels like my senior photo. It may be my “senior” photo, old as I am…..