Through a Glass, Darkly

Yesterday Mike and I went to Raleigh to spend some time with our friends Scott and Kelly. We had planned to meet in Raleigh because we realized that there was just no way for all of us to get together in January, and that would break our streak. So, instead of driving out to Wilmington or having them come to us, we decided to meet for dinner in Raleigh (despite the bad weather they apparently experienced last week, the roads were fine, although it was so windy that I got to use my favorite Winnie the Pooh word - blustery). I used some of my Christmas money so we could go to P.F. Chang’s. I knew before I walked in the door what I was going to order - Wok Seared Lamb. The sad thing was that I had talked it up so much that Mike and Kelly both also ordered it. Our waitress said that normally when people at a table all order the same thing, she tries to talk them out of it . . . but nothing is really like the lamb. Mike and I never cook lamb (Mike: “They don’t really sell lamb at Wal-Mart.”) so I always jump at the chance to eat it when I can. We also had the lettuce wraps that everyone talks about - neither Mike nor Scott had been to P.F. Chang’s before, and they seemed to like what they had. We had good conversation about some friendships that have been hard lately, and about the reasons I have been feeling better about all that God stuff lately. And I had at least six glasses of Diet Coke. (As the “designated driver,” I got my drink for free. hehe.)

Before we had dinner, I got to see the new pages in Kelly’s scrapbook, and she claimed to get some inspiration from mine. Then Kelly and I did our thing at the mall (”our thing” includes Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel . . . you get the idea) while the guys went to EB Games and other silly places like that. None of us bought anything (although Kelly tried on a cute skirt at J. Crew that was marked down to $20 after originally being $150), but fun times were had by all. And they are planning to come stay with us the last weekend in February, so the streak will live on!

Mike is the David Gray fan in our house, and we were listening to one of his playlists last night that included a few David Gray songs. As we were driving home, holding hands in the dark, This Year’s Love came on, and it seemed like a fitting end to a wonderful day.

Don’t you know this life goes on
And won’t you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain’t this life so sweet