Bob and Fish and Chips
Bob lives in the neighbouring community of Glen Oaks Manor.
I see him often as he, in an electric wheel-chair, walks his (Airedale?) Terrier "Scout" around the pond. Bob has a very loud voice (as I have previously noted, like the sound of a Corncrake).
Scout, an otherwise friendly dog, has taken a strong dislike to my Penne, so Bob and I have learned to maintain a safe distance.
'Twas about two months ago that Bob invited me out for lunch. We went to our local "Alma's Kouzine", and enjoyed Alma's fabulous savoury crepes.
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Every now and then I get a craving for certain foods. For instance, just a few days ago I wanted to tuck in to some good fish and chips. My body and mind longed for this "British National Dish".
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Soon after my return from England I saw Bob one morning. He yelled across the pond "call me, let's have lunch again". I had hoped that our earlier lunch was a one-off affair, but I promised to 'phone him. We set a date for lunch today.
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Have I told you that Bob is a ninety-two year old WWII veteran, that he and his wife Lilian have been married for 67 years, that they have three children and numerous grand-children, and that he grew up in Dorchester MA where his father was an "Irish Cop" in the (predominately Irish) Boston Police Department? Indeed his Dad knew James Michael Curley!
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Off we went to lunch today. Bob suggested "Kacey's Sea Food and More" - a restaurant about two miles away. I had never before been there.
Guess what was on the menu? Yes indeed - Fish and Chips.
Of course I ordered them. It was a good choice. The cod-fish was fried to perfection in a crunchy batter. The chips were fabulous - crisp on the outside and "fluffy" inside, The sides were O.K. - not bad cole-slaw, and o.k. hush puppies.
(see http://www.kaceysseafood.com/ )
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As we ate lunch and chatted Bob said "I am mostly housebound these days".
Then I "got it". Bob is restricted in his movements; his horizons get smaller each month.
He has selected me, for whatever reason, to be one of his life-lines to the wider world. I am honoured.
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I promised Bob that I would make the next call, and that lunch would then be my treat at the Oasis Restaurant on South Osprey in SRQ.
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I suppose that this is a "retirement ministry". I'll take it, just so long as it comes along with great fish and chips!
I see him often as he, in an electric wheel-chair, walks his (Airedale?) Terrier "Scout" around the pond. Bob has a very loud voice (as I have previously noted, like the sound of a Corncrake).
Scout, an otherwise friendly dog, has taken a strong dislike to my Penne, so Bob and I have learned to maintain a safe distance.
'Twas about two months ago that Bob invited me out for lunch. We went to our local "Alma's Kouzine", and enjoyed Alma's fabulous savoury crepes.
------------------------------------------------------------
Every now and then I get a craving for certain foods. For instance, just a few days ago I wanted to tuck in to some good fish and chips. My body and mind longed for this "British National Dish".
------------------------------------------------------------
Soon after my return from England I saw Bob one morning. He yelled across the pond "call me, let's have lunch again". I had hoped that our earlier lunch was a one-off affair, but I promised to 'phone him. We set a date for lunch today.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Have I told you that Bob is a ninety-two year old WWII veteran, that he and his wife Lilian have been married for 67 years, that they have three children and numerous grand-children, and that he grew up in Dorchester MA where his father was an "Irish Cop" in the (predominately Irish) Boston Police Department? Indeed his Dad knew James Michael Curley!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Off we went to lunch today. Bob suggested "Kacey's Sea Food and More" - a restaurant about two miles away. I had never before been there.
Guess what was on the menu? Yes indeed - Fish and Chips.
Of course I ordered them. It was a good choice. The cod-fish was fried to perfection in a crunchy batter. The chips were fabulous - crisp on the outside and "fluffy" inside, The sides were O.K. - not bad cole-slaw, and o.k. hush puppies.
(see http://www.kaceysseafood.com/ )
-------------------------------------------------------------
As we ate lunch and chatted Bob said "I am mostly housebound these days".
Then I "got it". Bob is restricted in his movements; his horizons get smaller each month.
He has selected me, for whatever reason, to be one of his life-lines to the wider world. I am honoured.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I promised Bob that I would make the next call, and that lunch would then be my treat at the Oasis Restaurant on South Osprey in SRQ.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I suppose that this is a "retirement ministry". I'll take it, just so long as it comes along with great fish and chips!
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