4 Coffees and 1 Fishy

FISH

Still in bed (2/3s of our kids awake), phone call from an auntie, "I'm on my way over now to make you a fish and bring something." I had my first of five clothing layers on when she arrived with fish, new multi-purpose rice cooker and second-hand giant wok. Earlier she had observed that we lacked these. She herself has little expendable income, and she had to spend hours on a Saturday morning going to market and cooking the fish, Drew's favorite, in our kitchen.

Drew was really happy about the fish, but he'll admit, a tad grumpy because the weight of prep work was hanging over his head and Jonathon was not eating well. On the weekends, this one for example, Drew facilitates no less than five groups. (Friday night, Saturday noon, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon). Who knows why in the world he could be grumpy, right?

COFFEE

Auntie and I set out together, me for the market with two kids, one kid still at home trying to swallow his breakfast with Drew, who was planning to knock out that prep work. A few minutes later his friend, diagnosed OCD, shows up at the door unexpectedly with four grande coffees and one grande hot chocolate (for the kids!). Wants to talk about something and get something, or something like that. Oh Drewwy was patient and openhanded with his time! He sees right through that nonobservance of social norms and wacky OCD to the well-intentioned heart of this guy. His gift, good coffee, is a real treat here, and expensive.

I arrived home with vegetables and children. Drew made it out the door, barely.
Somehow I gently let that OCD friend that he needed to go now...he departed eventually, after asking me how to pronounce the word "all" approximately fifty times.

COFFEE AND FISH

Before that other dude had left, my old friend came over for lunch, a comfortable friend. We sat in the sunporch side by side with our arms draped over each other's shoulders, catching up. And then we washed dishes and made lunch in the kitchen and had one of those revitalizing ol-pal conversations. I learned a lot more about her past, her fears, her dreams. And I shared what was on my heart, no filters. It was the best ever. When she first arrived at our home, I asked her what she might like to drink?

Do you have any COFFEE?

An unusual request for Chinese, tea or water is standard.

Did you make this FISH?

Fish-lover extraordinare, she is.
Grew up on a fish pond and has on more than one occasion given me her angle as a gift.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I did?"

"...No."

And that was the beginning of a wonderful day.
Miraculous like 5 loaves and 2 fishes, we had 4 coffees and 1 fishy.

Drew came home and he was not grumpy, even though we ate all of his favorite fish dish.
He can never stay grumpy longer than three minutes.

And this is the end of my blogging habit, for awhile. Taking Feburary off.

Back in March!