Ladies Weekend, with Surprise
Family, Food, Fun, Fellowship
For several years, before Christmas, we’d been exchanging gifts with my sister’s family. At one time we sent packages in the mail. for several years my brother Paul and his wife visited Karin before Christmas exchanging gifts from us and them to Karin, her kids, and families. She in turn sent gifts for our families.
But Paul was gone. We still craved contact so decided to meet in York before Christmas, exchange gifts from vehicle to vehicle, and catch up with a good meal. Then the idea came up to have a ladies’ weekend in Kearney for Karin, her daughter (our niece) Kelly—both from Kansas, our daughter Cassie-Papillion/Omaha, and, of course, Lorene and me from Kearney.
That first weekend was a blast. We ate out, we ordered in, we played games and laughed a lot. the weekend left us with positive memories and a desire for more. This year we decided to hold our weekend much earlier, which was safer than waiting until snow might keep us all home. We chose instead Nebraska’s usual hottest month—August.
The weather was good. Sunny skies, not windy and really not too overwhelmingly hot. We did spend a lot of time at our home, because Keith and my health has been under siege this year. Keith is still recovering from serious back surgery.
It was also Kelly’s fiftieth birthday so purchased a gluten free, dairy free and more birthday cake we all could eat and enjoy. I loved the frosting! We laughed, caught up with each other’s lives, and remembered sad and happy times. We played a game, but mostly talked.
The surprise came Saturday night when we went to Alley Rose, just like we’d done the year before. They even gave us the same table. We sat down and began to consider the menu. I didn’t. I was trying to remember what I’d had the year before that they created around the elimination of my many food sensitivities. However, I didn’t have to worry.
Our waiter walked by. (Remember this is almost a year later.) He glanced at me and told me not only what I’d had the year before, but also listed my sensitivities. My mouth hung open.. I was so impressed. As were all of us. He was a good waiter. He listened, he interacted, he knew the menu, was kind and considerate and knew what he was doing. This special waiter helped make our evening a positive memory.
Since Karin, Kelly and Cassie were all headed home the next morning, we said our goodbyes outside the restaurant. However, Keith and I had our leftover boxes. When we ate those meals the next couple of days, we were reminded of a special weekend with family and a waiter who helped make it so. I am looking forward to next year.
© 2023 Carolyn R Scheidies
Kearney Hub Column 9/27/2023
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