When life goes to pot, you need good friends

I'm adjusting to normal, stationary life again. It's got some perks, but no one comes to make the bed or offer me breakfast in the morning. I find this unacceptable.

Early in the week, I had dinner at the Three Chimneys Inn in Durham. And while I dig the charm . . .

 

. . . I'm not sure about all of the decor. "Hi, Shannon. I'd like to reserve a table for two this Friday night. It's our anniversary. Can you possibly seat us under the series of chamber pots hanging from the ceiling? Yes? Fantastic!"

 

***

But the work week ended on a tough note. In the 90s there was a video game called Mortal Kombat. When you won, you could gnash all of the controller buttons at once and somehow have your character approach your opponent, stick your fist into its chest, pull out its heart, and hold it up, still beating. Work sort of felt like that. 

Wow, you really can Google anything

And that's the time when you need an off-the-cuff email from a good friend who tells you to meet her in Newburyport for dinner. Yay, kids, it's Agave time! We were lucky to get a fantastic table, open right to the sidewalk.

Noelle approves of the chicken enchiladas with mole. I do too. Bravo also on the margaritas.

We both were tickled by such a stylish shot of tequila, which comes with its own salt shaker.

After dinner, we headed out to Plum Island. The sun was fading, kids were trudging up from the beach, men were fishing. And we kicked off our shoes and walked right to the water.

When it's been a week like this, I cherish the fabulous people in my life who can hold deep conversation, interspersed with humor and intellect. We talked about what it means to be a strong woman and how every decision leads you down a path you had better be pretty sure of. We shared what we're reading and writing. We talked about insecurities, victories, and madness, and how even the bravest woman cries. We talked while the sea lapped our ankles, then feet, then toes, as the tide went out. 

It felt good to feel the ocean and smell the tide. And it felt good to know that the whole summer is before us all.

Hmm, my feet look a little hobbit-esque here

xo