Dan and I started the day by taking the NSX and Dan being Dan insisted on taking the "back roads" to get there, which is code for find the most winding roads with the fewest number of services available. These excursions start out full of anticipation of fun, but as one hairpin turn turns into 100, the anticipation of fun quickly turns into anticipation of when the heck are we going to get there. We managed to turn a 2 1/2 hour drive into a 4 hour drive. Now, this was okay with me because I really wanted to arrive late. I'm perpetually early and I get sick of always being the first one to a party. I wanted to be fashionably late. Therefore, Dan's plan to take the "back roads" served my purposes just fine. We arrive to the party 45 minutes late, but upon our finding the house we noticed that there are no cars there; not even Luke and Diane's. We arrived at the party BEFORE the guest of honor! We got on the phone immediately and found out that the party was scheduled to start at 4 pm not 3 pm. Luckily Luke and Diane were just minutes away as were Fred and Joe. So, yet again, my best efforts to be late were foiled. I guess I'm meant to always be the first to arrive.The invited guests for this part were life long friends of Luke, most of whom I had met years ago, or maybe it would be more accurate to say decades ago. I was mildly curious to see how kind the years have been to all of us. It turns out that Luke was not the only one having a birthday. Bob Halliwell was also turning 60 next Tuesday, so the party was for him as well.
We were warmly greeted by Gerhardt and Vayla (sorry I don't know their last name) and brought into their lovely home. Bob and his wife, Gigi, were already there and Bob immediately got to work tending bar. Bob is a bigger than life kind of person, who is never short on enthusiasm and something to say, so there was not the usual warming up phase of the party. We just hit the ground running, catching up and (for the others) reminiscing.
Then it was picture time. Bob Halliwell is on the far left, next to him is Gerhardt, then Luke, then Joe, then Fred, and Dan. Nick is the man sitting on the stool. I had previously met everyone except for Gerhardt. What a wonderful host Gerhardt was; constantly checking to see if there was anything that anyone needed.
Luke's wife, Diane and I have a wonderful sister-in-law relationship and I so enjoy whenever I can spend time with her.
Diane and I wanted a picture with our favorite bartender of the night Bob. He is a retired teacher so I guess you could say this was a picture of the teachers who were at the party. Diane teaches second grade.
The women at the party were (from left to right) Gigi (Bob's wife), Vayla (Gerhardt's wife and hostess of the party), Miriam (Nick's wife), Diane and myself.After we finished with picture taking we were moved into the house where a lovely dinner was served. Most notable was the dessert. Vayla made this German cake, well it was actually more like coffee cake, that was to die for. She gave me the recipe (I pray that I will be able to remember it) and I plan on making it the first chance I have a good reason to. They put to gether a slide show of pictures from their youth and let me just say that they accurately portrayed the cultural events of the 60's. You do with that statement what you will. The evening went a little later than I had expected and so we had to gently leave before I think we were meant to, but we had teenagers to get home to and a long drive ahead of us, or should I say me. Dan was in no condition to drive, which left me and it was way past my bedtime...ugh that makes me sound sooooo old. I guess I'm just saying that I was already rather sleepy. We arrived home at 12:30 am and found both our children safely back at home (Chelsea had been in Gridley all day at a party).
We don't get out much to do these kind of social functions, so it was nice to break with routine and relax and enjoy the company of others. Happy Birthday dear brother Luke! We sure do love you.
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