Good food, good friends, despite the rain

This is getting monotonous. More rain, more cold, more gloom. Today, for the first time since last Sunday, I got out of the cottage and went—wait for it!—to the grocery store. Actually, a trip to the grocery is one of the highlights of my week. I like to pick out the items I want. My kids have wonderful intentions, but they come home too often with the wrong things—wrong brand, etc. I guess I’m picky. These days, the fun of driving that motorized cart adds to my shopping experience. A checkout clerk looked at me today and said, wistfully, “I could never drive one of those.” I assured her she could and would come to love it.

Today, I was doubly grateful for the scooter. We parked just a tad farther from the door than usual, and as is our habit, I walked in on Jordan’s arm. I guess it was the rain, but my hip began to hurt, and by the time we got to the vestibule of the store I was sure I couldn’t make it any farther. I stopped by a door, held on to the frame, and said, “I’m going to stay right here.” Jordan got a grocery cart and, holding on to it, I was able to walk to the scooters. But the incident upset me and stayed with me all day. I’m not sure yet if my hip failed me or my will power.

We did our shopping and went to Eatsy’s. For those who don’t know, it’s a marvelous take-out grocery. Pastries and bread in one section, “designer” sandwiches in another, a small cabinet of sushi, a long refrigerated cabinet of cheeses and snacks, lots of wine everywhere, a take-out dinner station featuring catfish as the Friday special, a coffee and tea bar. My favorite is the counter in the middle with prepared a la carte items—I got a crab cake (the saleslady, asked to choose between salmon and crab, said, “The crab is awfully good”), a goat cheese/potato croquette, a couple of slices of Mediterranean rare roast beef (at $36/lb. but I figured two small slices weren’t that much), and a mustard potato salad. Salivated at the oversize cookies at the checkout counter and now wish I’d gotten one. Jordan got wine, cheese, the same potato croquette, some shrimp. We feasted for lunch, but I have the crab and the potato cake for supper tomorrow.

This evening Jay, my handsome neighbor, brought his sister over for happy hour. Enjoyed meeting her. They come from a large family—seven children I think—but all seem extraordinarily close, which delights me. I made a salmon dip, but no one ate much, and I put it on toast and topped it with a slice of smoked salmon for my supper after they left.

Tonight I’m going to be lazy but tomorrow I must tackle my tax preparation for the accountant. I’ve done some of it, but it still looms as a big job. It’s supposed to storm again tomorrow, and I suppose whether or not I got to the funeral of a close friend’s sister-in-law depends on the weather. Jordan doesn’t like me out in slippery weather, and today’s outing discouraged me a bit

Hurry on, sunshine, where are you?