Company for supper . . . and am I still on vacation?

 

Serenity, with a poinsettia

My favorite minister from our church came for supper tonight—not because she is my minister but because she is my friend. Although there are at least twenty years or more between us (gosh, guess who’s older?) we have lots in common—both having been ex-wives with all the baggage that brings, both devoted moms and grandmoms, both simply enjoying life and laughing a lot. I always look forward to her visits because she boosts my self-confidence and spirits. We have our serious moments, but we also laugh a lot. She brought me a poinsettia in an unusual vase—a woman’s head. The woman looks like she is from ancient Greece to me, and I have named her Serenity, because that’s how she looks and serenity is what I need. Serenity comes from Sellon, the goddess who fell in love with the shepherd Endymion, a mere mortal. Don’t ask me about the implications of that.

Sophie looks forward to Renee’s visits too, because she’s a dog person. Soph intuitively knows when we are expecting company. Tonight, she lay watching the door. When Renee knocked, Soph barked and looked at me as if to say, “I told you so.”

Sophie asking, "Who's coming for supper?"

I fixed Chicken Divan, which turns out to be Renee’s mother’s signature dish and a great favorite of hers. With salad, baguette slices, and those teen-ninny ice cream cones, it was a perfect weeknight dinner for ladies.

And that’s mostly what I did today—I caught up with some business matters, took care of email, and cooked the dinner. A writers’ blog I read made an impression on me—suggested how to use the three-act structure to outline a book and sent me in a whole new direction of thinking about my dormant Helen Corbett project. Another writing listserv I belong to always starts the week by asking what the plans are for each member in our small circle. When I said I planned to take the week as it comes, what with approaching holidays, dinners with friends, etc., the moderator replied that it sounds like I’m still on Thanksgiving break. I thought about that and decided it was a pretty good idea. So, I hereby declare I am on vacation until January 2. If I write during that time, fine; if I don’t, that’s okay too, though I’ll try to keep blogging daily or almost so.