When I arrived at work, I was surprised with an airline ticket to San Francisco from my boss and her husband (thank you DCP & MP.) It's been nearly ten years since I've visited SFO and am very much looking forward to a little vacation, especially since I have a handful of friends down there; a nurse, a film maker, a foodie, a dj, and yes, another foodie.
My day of surprises continued as a friend dropped off a box of appetizing pastries for me and my boss to share (thank you RH.)
At half past noon or so, a pair of attorneys I've recently befriended dropped by the shop whereupon I was granted leave to join them for lunch. We moseyed our way to the market, where one of them was able to work her magic and get us an outdoor table at the quaint Café Campange (Good job GB!)
The sun was strong, as it was high, as we watched tourists navigate their way through bustling Post Alley we kept our cool by indulging ourselves with chilled rosé, and Hendrick's and tonics. The food was tasty, as we knew it would be. I had a wonderful green bean salad with mushrooms, onions and pork rillet (mmmm...) and for birthday dessert a house-made apricot sorbet (mmmm... again.)
Over the course of two and a half hours, our conversation revolved around, naturally, food, booze, and relationships. Where are favorite haunts are; who we know and adore: our families, our friends, our bartenders; our habits and patterns at work and at home; where we've been and where we want to go; the virtues of imbibing; our relationship track records; and how far away happy hour was. I was among kindred spirits and we were steadily getting lit.
Back at the tower, it was a wee bit hard to concentrate as all I could think about was my next cocktail, come happy hour. Promptly after closing time at the shop, I found myself seated at the bar at Vessel with one of my newly acquainted like-hearted spirits enjoying a quick round of spirits before meeting up with some friends for a special birthday dinner. (Funny how just one round, turns into two... (Thanks DR!))
Six o'clock came too soon and my friend escorted me home where, shortly after, I met two of my closest friends and we set out for West Seattle, the neighborhood I called home for much of my growing up years. It's wonderful how so much in this world is cyclical and I often find it such a delight when a circle is completed and starts anew.
Friday, being the eve of the Sabbath, is when Shabbat dinner occurs. A Jewish tradition that I've been recently exposed to and embraced in to by a dear friend of mine and her family. As we arrived to my friend's mother's home, we opted to take advantage of the warm, early evening sun and chose to seat ourselves outside on the patio where we enjoyed a bit of coffee, some white wine, apples, smoked salmon and Fleur d'âne cheese (mmmm!!!) (So Continental, I know.)
A few hours later, as the sun sank lower in the horizon, we returned indoors and decided to start dinner. I was given a kippa to wear, my first time ever, I was really excited. There was a fairly noticeable Jewish population at my high school (in fact my friend's older brother went to my high school, he was the quarterback) and I always wondered about yamikas when I saw them and here I was, wearing one on my birthday!
We lit candles and offered prayers to my friend's ancestors and family and then seated ourselves at the dinner table where we chanted more prayers; blessings were doled out, one even over the telephone to my friend's little sister in San Francisco (the nurse--see, everything is cyclical;) Manischewitz; breaking of bread; and finally dinner itself. We had a feast from the Holy Land: falafel, tabouli, chop chop salad with feta, humus, pita (very thin and made with whole wheat,) babaganouj; and for birthday dessert: sesame cookies and cardamom cake (mmm!)
Another part of Shabbat dinner is revisiting a piece of the Scriptures and reflecting upon it. We were told, per my request, of the story of David and Jonathan. The very same David who slew Goliath. David, youngest son of Jesse, of Bethlehem, was quite the warrior. He befriended Jonathon, eldest son of Saul, the King of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin. David's military prowess positioned him as a possible rival of Jonathan's for Saul's Crown. Saul, in order to protect his dynasty, essential had David exiled hoping to eliminate him as a threat to the throne. Ironically, David eventually became King.
Before David's exile, David and Jonathan's deep regard and admiration for one another led them to form a covenant that is again was renewed while David was in the wilderness. Much speculation surround the manner of relationship they may or may not have had: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_jonathan . Read into it what you will, but, the Jewish interpretation of entering into a relationship, be it friendship or otherwise, for the sake of the relationship itself and not the quantitative benefits that could potentially be accessed through said relationship, as a key to an enduring and fulfilling bond is a lesson I cherish from this story. Basically, be friends with people for who they are and not what they can get for you.
And at the end of the evening, it is among the company of such genuine friends I found myself, and no material value can be placed upon that. For these friends, I am so utterly grateful to have them in my life. What a wonderful and rich birthday and night.
I love your writing! Keep it up :D
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