GARLIC

          When I left Dianne’s yesterday, as usual, I brought home something I hadn’t brought there…five bunches of garlic she’d grown in her garden. I absolutely LOVE garlic.

          Was it a good visit, you’re wondering? Well, even if you weren’t, it was a GREAT visit.

          When I arrived on Thursday afternoon, after driving through torrential downpours…I think I only used the intermittent windshield wiper setting for about three-minutes total the entire two hours…I met Dianne’s youngest granddaughter, Sylvie. She’s only three and was initially very shy, but warmed up after a while and gave me a huge hug when her mommy came home. Sylvie promised she’d give her daddy a big hug and tell him it was from Auntie Paula. And, Sylvie was so good. I think Di and I talked nonstop for a couple of hours while she amused herself building her own place with blankets, pillows, and other stuff.

          Just as Sylvie was leaving with her mom, the first of Di’s long-time friends arrived. She was followed by three more, all of whom I had met years ago and knew and we settled down to play Shanghai Rummy. I believe they all do this once a month or so. The game was new to me but very fun; and initially, I thought I was going to be the big winner. Then, it was my turn to deal and the tide turned. I didn’t win another hand and ended up in second-to-last place. I didn’t care, it was the best fun I’d had in a while and I’d love to get some of my friends up here to form a Shanghai Rummy club…if you’re interested, let me know.

          Of course, we were all hungry, so we traipsed into town to the local Mexican restaurant and had dinner. It was so very yummy. Back to Dianne’s, we talked some more and then to bed. A very great and tiring day.

          Friday began with more talk about this and that, sharing of memories, etc., and once we were ready for the day we headed for Montesano and Dianne’s moms. I told Mabel I could hardly believe I’d known her for almost 50 years, but it turned out there was (and is) a lot I still didn’t know. Mabel told me about growing up in a Croatian family and about how the whole area had been settled by Croatians. She talked about their holiday customs, making Cro Wine, how most of her parents and their friends had only two children, but her generation each had six. I asked if anyone had written any of this information down and she said nope, but her kids knew most of it.

          I told Dianne she really needed to record what her mom has to say about the old days or begin writing it down. She’s lucky she still has a source that can provide. I no longer have any sources and didn’t do anything about family history. Now, it’s too late and I have a million questions I’d like to get answered, but there’s no one to provide any answers whatsoever. Mable was so interesting that I hope someone in the family…maybe the older granddaughters…takes the time to harness all that knowledge.

          We didn’t do anything else Friday. I encouraged Dianne to go swim with her friend as she always does on Friday. I took my bathing suit and could have gone, but I really just wanted to be on the couch with my book. Before dinner, we had a little Margarita Wine from Costco (I simply have to go buy some). Dianne had made soup for dinner and threw together a great salad (Why are salads always so much better when someone else makes them?) and we finished the wine while we ate. It was very good soup…I love soup.

          After cleaning up, Dianne introduced me to Apple Pie Moonshine. She or one of her friends made it and there’s several quarts in the fridge. It’s pretty sweet, but you cut it with some diet ginger ale and it’s really delicious. There was a lot of laughter during the remainder of the evening, probably at some things that really weren’t that funny. We also joked about whether or not we’d be able to stand and walk when we got up. We did though and slept like angels.

          Except for when the train comes through. Dianne isn’t far from the rails and the law is that every time a train approaches a road that doesn’t have lights or bars, the horn must be sounded. So, the train whistler begins way away and it’s two longish, one short and one longish, a break, and then the series repeats (assume the train has once again reached an unmarked road crossing). Then, it’s right in the room with you (had my window open) and the noise decreases over time as it moves on toward Aberdeen. I rarely hear my noisy cuckoo clock unless I’m listening and Dianne hardly ever hears the train pass by.

          A little more chit-chat this morning, mostly about our upcoming trips. Dianne heard her trip to Viet Nam might be cancelled because of the coronavirus. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she still gets to go, but she’s preparing to be disappointed. We got ready for the day and I put all my stuff back in my car. Big hugs and I was on the road. It didn’t rain all the way home and at times I could turn the wipers off, but I was glad to say farewell to the freeway and back into my own driveway.

          My first venture out on my own far from home. I started out a little nervous, but all went well’ and I had a wonderful time catching up with Dianne, the friends and her mom. Plus, I have some wonderful new fresh garlic…thanks Dianne.