More shopping was on the schedule after that and before the
dessert course of wonderful creations served on the whitest tablecloths you
can imagine. It was an elegant place in a converted, 120 year old storefront on
Main Street where we could watch the tourists walking by. I had coconut panna
cotta with pineapple, tapioca and cilantro. Very different than anything I’d
ever had before which is why I choose it and it was easy on the palate---light but flavorful. On day trips like this I love sitting down in a restaurant and
having your heart’s desire brought to you without having to go through the
ritual of everyone at the table reading a menu and changing their minds a
hundred times. When we sign up for these trips we all pre-order from a choice
of three things for each course.
I’m not a fan of window shopping (or purposeful shopping for
that matter) and if I would have remained alone on this trip I probably would
have found a shady place to people watch or read part of the time and I would
have been perfectly content doing it. But another widow who lost her husband a
year after I lost Don and I are slowly building a relationship and she invited
me to tag along with her and another woman as they checked out the boutiques. They
are going to Ireland in the fall with a group from the senior hall and they were
using this day trip to get to know each other better since they will be sharing
a room on their overseas adventure. The senior hall sponsors a guided, overseas
trip once a year and if I was inclined to go abroad I’d feel safe traveling
that way. If they ever pick Paris or Alaska as a destination I will probably be
tempted beyond my ability to say no. It’s not on my Bucket List to travel but I’d
love to see the Louvre in Paris and Glacier Bay in Alaska via an inside passage
cruise. Thankfully, I’d have nine months to “train” and get in better shape for
a trip like that. The day after the restaurant hop I was so wiped out I could
hardly move. Walking in the sun and riding in cramped seats and my old bones
don’t mix well.
In case anyone is wondering what a restaurant hop costs, we
each paid $36.00 and that included the 3-course meal and non-alcoholic beverages, gratuities
and transportation. Our senior hall doesn’t make money off any of our trips and
events so they are as affordable as they can possibly be for what we get in
return. Next month I’m going on another day trip, this time to our state
capital where we’ll be dining on a riverboat cruise.
I have been known to "bring Don along" on these day trips via my ash locket with his picture and date of birth and death inside. I sometimes wear it for courage and Thursday I noticed that my shopping companion had an unusual pendant on her necklace. It was a circular glass piece surrounded by diamonds and it held her husband's wedding ring. Inside of the glass---in the center of the ring---were tiny things floating around---a cross, a yellow ribbon, a boat, etc., that represented different parts of his life. I like my more discrete heart-shaped locket with its tiny pocket for ashes better BUT if I had seen one of those pendants first, before having Don's ring incorporated into a beaded necklace, I would have bought it. See what I missed by not being a fan of the Home Shopping channel! ©
I have been known to "bring Don along" on these day trips via my ash locket with his picture and date of birth and death inside. I sometimes wear it for courage and Thursday I noticed that my shopping companion had an unusual pendant on her necklace. It was a circular glass piece surrounded by diamonds and it held her husband's wedding ring. Inside of the glass---in the center of the ring---were tiny things floating around---a cross, a yellow ribbon, a boat, etc., that represented different parts of his life. I like my more discrete heart-shaped locket with its tiny pocket for ashes better BUT if I had seen one of those pendants first, before having Don's ring incorporated into a beaded necklace, I would have bought it. See what I missed by not being a fan of the Home Shopping channel! ©
Jean,
ReplyDeleteI am green with envy every time you mention your senior hall events. As far as I know, we don't have those kinds of activities available to seniors that are offered by any one group. Our neighboring county does offer things like yoga and hiking and such associated with parks and rec. I took yoga for 55-plus, but I'd love to participate in trips/events like your restaurant hop or museums or gardens or Capitol visits, etc. I agree about traveling abroad or other big trips. You need to be in shape and if you're like me, you better take your digestive/laxative type meds. I always get constipated when I travel. I know, TMI. Sorry.
I don't think ice cream and beer is a culinary adventure I want to try. Your sandwich and dessert sound wonderful, though.
I like the idea of your discreet locket.
I'd want to take the whole pharmacy with me deal with rashes, hives, allergies and digestive issues. I have a day's worth in my purse at all times now and I rarely get far from home.
DeleteOur senior hall director just got her job turned from a part time job into to a full time job so think the hall activities are going to get better and better. And I don't take part in half the stuff they do...like going to plays and musicals.
Sounds like fun, but I just can't walk that far with all the shopping AND--I dislike browsing, shopping or anything like that. I'm one of those, know what I need, do and get it and get home, LOL I'm glad you can do this and take Don with you. I have a small Black Hills Gold cross that I wear all the time and sometimes, I find myself holding it in my hand for courage.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer doing the shopping part of these trips on my own then I can stop and rest whenever I like, but you can't build friendships by being anti-social around your pool of potential friends. So I went along from store to store to get along. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love Black Hills Gold and I'm glad your cross gives you courage when needed.
All three restaurants sound dreamy, and you probably walked off every single calorie. You're quite a good sport joining the two women, doing something you'd rather sit out, just so you can continue getting to know your new friend better. I hope you had a good time. I'd probably be the one to wander to the sidelines to locate my courage, taking a deep breath where it's quieter. The locket sounds interesting and comforting and useful.
ReplyDeleteDo you see yourself doing group things for the rest of your life, or winnowing those down as you settle in with a few good friends, going on smaller excursions?
I will continue doing the group trips and outings. 1) Driving long distances for people in my age bracket will just get harder and less safe to do as we age, and 2) I've kind of given up on the idea of finding a couple of close friends. But I'm coming around to being okay with that....not there yet, but stranger things have happened. LOL
DeleteI wouldn't exactly call it being a good sport to tag along with the other women. I've always been a 'blender' and 'go-along-with-the-flow' kind of person. My tastes are not mainstream around here and it is what it is.
I added another comment on your last post. Did you see it?
Ah! I've replied now!
DeleteThe restaurant hop sounds like a delightful event -- although, like you, I have low tolerance for shopping. I'd be okay if one of the stores was a good bookstore, and I can last a little while with tools or housewares, but I get bored in clothes stores after about 2 minutes.
ReplyDeleteParis and Alaska are two of the places I want to go back to again. -Jean
They are fun. Most of the restaurants are to places above my normal budget for eating out but they give us the banquet rates. We usually have 3 buses, one each 3 days in a row.
DeleteShopping in bookstores, craft stores or antiques stores I don't mind but I very much dislike shopping for clothing and shoes!