Ok, it wasn't Toledo, it was
Covington, Indiana. Picky, picky. Well, Ohio/Indiana, they're
sort of close. Six of us had decided to meet there for an
early dinner: Harold (SKYKING) and Cathy Simpson, 
Mary (COUNTRY ROADS)
and Mike Padget, Diana (YELLOWSTONE WOLF) Taylor and myself.
We met at the "Beef House", four miles east of the
Illinois/Indiana border, at 3pm. Ok, it was 4 pm Indiana
time, but since I was only four miles into Indiana, my brain
hadn't adjusted yet. I will continue to "talk" in
Illinois time (sorry, CR and WOLF) because it's me (or, I
could talk in Hawaiian time because Mike keeps his watch on
that time because that's where he'd rather be....ME TOO,
Mike!!). 
Anyhow, I
got there about 2:30 (don't know how to be late) and couldn't
figure out which of these two great big rustic-looking
buildings was the Beef House because there was no sign out
front that I could see. I guess you were just supposed to
know since they claim they have the best steaks in Indiana
and everyone goes there. I made a guess....oops, wrong one.
(Duh, Aileen, look where all the cars are parked and pick
that one next time.) Everyone else showed up soon after and
there were lots of hugs all around. This World Family seems
to be good at that! 
As we walked in to be seated, Harold
started introducing all of us to the owner of the
restaurant. Just when I thought, "Gee, Harold
knows someone WHEREVER we go," then Mary and Mike
greeted a couple THEY knew, and also another couple later on.
I was amazed.
The food was fantastic, as
advertised, but the best time was all the laughing, talking,
and sharing of stories. We looked at each other's photos of
Aspen, and remembered what fun we had. When we finished
dinner, it was time for ALL of us 
to get out our cameras and take pictures of
the group at our table. One or the other of us would back up,
just a little more so that we could get everyone else in the
picture....and we almost backed into several people's laps.
We were laughing so hard, there were more than a few heads
that turned our way. Aw, heck, we were all so cute, who
cared??
By this time it
was 5 or 5:30 and the line for a table in the restaurant was
stretching out the door, so we decided we had to give up
our 
table.
We went outside, and managed to get a few unsuspecting good
souls to take pictures of all of us (remember there were FOUR
cameras there and we all wanted one taken on our own!). About
this time we decided to get serious and say a prayer for
EVERGREEN and her family, and for all those who have needed
it lately. WOLF was a moving leader, and did a great job.
Then it was time to go, and...
Ok, HAROLD, I can't pass this story
up. Sorry!! Harold came over to us and said, "I've
locked my keys in the car! I never do that." Secretly we
all thought, "HURRAH! An excuse to stay longer,"
although what we really did was give poor Harold a very hard
time. There was LOTS of laughter all around, and of course
Harold went to get the obligatory coat hanger for his try at
that nasty lock. (Rory, do you need any photos for the Jerome
t-shirts? I might have some good ones...) 
By 6pm he was
successful (quite a talented man), and we all knew it was
time to part for sure. But, we didn't. An hour later, we were
still standing in the parking lot talking...and talking...and
talking. Good WOLF that she is, she suggested it was time for
dessert and coffee so back we go into the same restaurant we
had left an hour and a half earlier!! The waitress told us
she had never had so many people order dessert at one table
before, usually everyone is too full. We had to break down
and tell her we just waited in the parking lot until we were
hungry enough to come back for more...
We finally did say
goodbye about 8:30 pm, only because I wanted to get home to
Normal by 10pm (I turn into a witch after that). We made
plans to meet again, sometime, somehow, before Aspen. Who can
wait that long?
P.S. See, CR, I didn't
mention even one tiny thing about those droopy knee-hi's
which would have made my grandmother proud. Oops, sorry, that
just slipped out at the last minute and I couldn't find my
eraser. Oh, man, am I in for it now...
Other
pictures from this memorable evening....
 Harold receives a
surprise..... |
 |
 Mike and Harold...the twins. |
| |
|
|
 A copy of the
book, Alfie. |
 With
the keys safely retrieved, it's time for more
chatting! |
 Another group photo at the
restaurant. |
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