The first cold, cold evening of the Fall season found us at a dinner party, hosted by friends we hadn't seen in a while. They own a lovely home, not far away, but they also have active "senior" lives and we allow too much time in-between our times together. So, it was a much-anticipated visit. We love dinner parties, especially in the after-season, when Cape Cod once again becomes our own.
Other than our lovely friend Barbara, we did not know any of the other guests who were selected by our host and hostess in their belief that we would all have some basics in common and would become a compatible group soon after being introduced. This is an art-form. It took all of five seconds for me to bond with one guest, recognizing his name from his place card at the table. My brain, which can't produce for me the title of the book I am currently reading or the name of a restaurant that serves seafood on Cape Cod, will allow for strange recollections of names without instantly letting me in on the secret of why I know the name. Slowly, like the hint of fruit and exotic spices in a glass of red wine, the file cabinet in my brain opens and I have a classic Ah-ha moment. It takes skill in putting together a group of strangers, knowing all the while that these moments will happen.
Last night then, we had the pleasure of spending time with people who affirmed my belief that Cape Cod is a haven for smart, talented and interesting individuals. Our conversations were lively, not one political reference surfaced. We talked about travel, literature, food, history and science. We were writers, college professors, fitness experts, artists and lovers of the Renaissance. One of the group has just returned from a six week trip which was built around a three-week intensive language course in Trieste. One is the originator of the library system that is used Cape-wide. One, the past owner of a newspaper that was widely read on the Cape. Our host taught four years at the American University in Beirut and has traveled extensively with his wife and family, through the Middle East. Our friend Barbara, who can tell you anything you want to know about anything that has to do with Renaissance art or literature, can also build you a house. My husband, a man who re-invented himself years after so many others had already given up, and became a senior fitness expert,can name almost every muscle in the body and tell you facts from Italian literature in the same breath. I can tell stories, oh boy, can I tell stories. I'm not too shabby myself!
The dinner was great, the conversations, as one can imagine, fascinating. We dined, we talked, we shared, we communicated.
And, not one Smartphone invaded our beautiful evening. No texting interrupted our discussions and Alexa, she was not invited.
Other than our lovely friend Barbara, we did not know any of the other guests who were selected by our host and hostess in their belief that we would all have some basics in common and would become a compatible group soon after being introduced. This is an art-form. It took all of five seconds for me to bond with one guest, recognizing his name from his place card at the table. My brain, which can't produce for me the title of the book I am currently reading or the name of a restaurant that serves seafood on Cape Cod, will allow for strange recollections of names without instantly letting me in on the secret of why I know the name. Slowly, like the hint of fruit and exotic spices in a glass of red wine, the file cabinet in my brain opens and I have a classic Ah-ha moment. It takes skill in putting together a group of strangers, knowing all the while that these moments will happen.
Last night then, we had the pleasure of spending time with people who affirmed my belief that Cape Cod is a haven for smart, talented and interesting individuals. Our conversations were lively, not one political reference surfaced. We talked about travel, literature, food, history and science. We were writers, college professors, fitness experts, artists and lovers of the Renaissance. One of the group has just returned from a six week trip which was built around a three-week intensive language course in Trieste. One is the originator of the library system that is used Cape-wide. One, the past owner of a newspaper that was widely read on the Cape. Our host taught four years at the American University in Beirut and has traveled extensively with his wife and family, through the Middle East. Our friend Barbara, who can tell you anything you want to know about anything that has to do with Renaissance art or literature, can also build you a house. My husband, a man who re-invented himself years after so many others had already given up, and became a senior fitness expert,can name almost every muscle in the body and tell you facts from Italian literature in the same breath. I can tell stories, oh boy, can I tell stories. I'm not too shabby myself!
The dinner was great, the conversations, as one can imagine, fascinating. We dined, we talked, we shared, we communicated.
And, not one Smartphone invaded our beautiful evening. No texting interrupted our discussions and Alexa, she was not invited.
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