Ever since a number of our friends passed away last fall; a gang of us who worked at City Hall together had been trying to get ourselves to the Napoleon House. It had been going on since late September-early October, but what did it take? It took other mutual friends, Ann and Marty Rudegair coming to town to finally make it happen.
I arrived to find Ann and Marty sitting at the bar. Soon Pat Morris arrived and we hung out at the bar till we could round up a table. By then, Pat Bendenbaugh and Jane Jurik made it too.
We ended up in the dimly lit dining area where we soaked in love, friendship, and memories; with our pimm's cups, sazeracs, white wines...and, just a diet coke for me after being sick most of spring break.
Here we were late (3pm-ish) on a Monday afternoon. The place was packed. We had to wait for a table. And, as you can imagine; there was just a bit of bemoaning the gone good old days when our wonderful "local" haunt was not so much on the map.
If I've learned anything in these three years that I've been back stateside; it's to savor these moments and get together whenever you can. I've teased that sometimes I feel like the only reason I've returned to the states is to be here when everyone dies. That's a tease that's not a tease. I hesitate to give you the three year count.
After saying goodby to Louis and our waiter Bruce; there seemed to be endless hugs and kisses right at that corner entrance. Louis had commented that he hadn't seen me in a while. Those good old days became new good days when I realized that I had been missed.
This post is dedicated to all my friends and family who I love that have moved on during these times...I'll always save a chair at the Napoleon House just for you. Thinking about each of you beside me, makes me smile...many Napoleon House Smiles.
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