Here's to the ladies who lunch

I'm really not a lady who lunches. A typical day is a sandwich and some fruit either at my desk or in my car, not meeting with peers at any of the middle range and middle brow restaurants you can find in the area. Drinking in the middle of the day is unimaginable for me. I fight to keep my pace going strong, and an alcoholic drink would bring me to a full stop. A leisurely lunch with friends at one of their homes is almost a laughable concept. Most of my friends, like myself, are catching up on their housework on weekends and hustling through the week days.

Then there's the rare, delightful exception. Yesterday, I kissed off dirty laundry, told the womanchild I'd see her before she went out last night and headed to the home of a friend. She has a cozy apartment that looks like an upscale furniture store display but is actually a great accumulation of thrift store and dumpster diving finds. Her walls are covered with family photographs that were all taken with an artist's eye and original art. A fire was crackling in the fireplace. Her table was beautifully set for just the two of us.

We haven't known each other long or well, but this feels like one of those inevitable friendships when you meet a person and just know them. She didn't know that I was dieting. Before serving her meal she told me she hoped I didn't mind that it was all low fat and sugar free. It was as beautifully plated as any restaurant meal I've ever been served. Afterwards we sat in her living room, shoes abandoned, feet up on the couch, as comfortable as if I were in my own home. The conversation just flowed Sometimes we were butting in on each other. There were other comfortable silences. Most of the time, it was smooth as glass. Before I knew it, this had gone way past a lunch, and the sun was setting.

This was a simple thing, and yet it did so much for me. It's made me want to reach out more and bring my friends more into my space and my life, rather than always getting together out there somewhere when we actually do. My home, though not tacky, is not beautiful. While I like to think that I have taste, I lack the talent to decorate and pull things together. It is however my home, and it will be a welcoming place.

My friend didn't do anything elaborate yesterday. She just exercised love and care. I tend to tie myself up in knots whenever I have anyone over and sweat every detail or have things so casual that it's just join in the family time. I saw yesterday how one can relax and still make a simple meal feel special. I want to do that, and now I just need to decide when.

entertaining