A lovely supper in an old place made new

 

See that teenager? I'm betting one day he plays the Colonial.
Meantime, he and his mom and dad enjoyed being spectators today.

For years there was a Hoffbrau Steak and Grill House on University Drive in Fort Worth—both my daughters worked there at one time or another. What can I say? It was a burger joint, not much ambience, dark, lots of wood, a bar where folks sometimes got noisy, a big wooden deck.

Well now it’s been redone into Maria’s Mexican Kitchen—you wouldn’t recognize the place. The bar area where you enter is upscale, bright with color, clean. We went through a dining area (where the old main dining was but much lighter and cleaner, all that wood gone) to the patio—tiled floor, two small pools, very upscale and modern.

We were given ever consideration from valet to wait staff. Because I must use a walker, I’m always a bit sensitive to that, but the valet made sure I got up the curb, parked the car close to the front; the host showed us the ramp, arranged the chairs to my convenience. I felt downright spoiled.

I was dining with two longtime friends—fifty years we figured out tonight. All of us once married to osteopathic physicians—now widowed and divorced. Did we talk about the past? Not at all. The present had too many wild stories to tell. We tried—okay I failed—to avoid politics, because we are not all on the same page. But children and in-laws and all kinds of stuff.

I was a bit leery of the menu because everything sounded spicy. A conversation with the waitress told me I could substitute crab cakes in sour cream for the spicy sauces. That sounded so good to Linda that she ordered the same thing, and they were wonderful. Nancy had a platter, with a mole enchilada, I think.

Food was good, atmosphere was great, staff was friendly and kind. What more could you ask?

Interesting side note: a woman at the next table was friendly, telling us how good their dinner was. When she left, she looked at me and asked, “Are you Judy?” Turned out to be someone I am Facebook friends with (we share fairly strong political views) and, perhaps more important, we both adore the woman who cuts our hair. Her husband is also a Facebook friend, but he had moved on, talking to someone else. A nice chance encounter that brightened an already pleasant evening.

Other than that, it was a lazy Sunday. I didn’t push myself to get any work done. Coincidentally, the sermon this morning was on keeping the sabbath and not feeling we have to work every minute. That all-consuming focus on work, the minister suggested, is something that intensified during pandemic when so many people worked from home. Today, as usual, I worshipped from home, but we are about ready to go back to the church. Christian talked about it recently, and we’re waiting for the right Sunday.

You know those people who make all kinds of excuses for not being in church? That’s us! Mother’s Day was out because we were getting ready to do lunch for ten. Last week was out because Jordan was out of town—yes, we could have gone without her, but we didn’t. This week was out, because Jordan, Christian, and Jacob were going to the PGA tournament at Colonial Country Club. Who knows what next Sunday will bring? I will say while we have not been there physically, I have been faithful about attending virtual church, and Jordan has joined me most Sundays.

A busy week ahead and one in which I will get out of the cottage more for a variety of errands and appointments. It’s about time.

Sweet dreams, everyone!