My Friends FORCED Me to Have a Housewarming

Tuesday evening I am stressing because my river friends offered to warm my house.

GULP.

I said a reluctant, "sure." And I looked in my humble abode. I needed to get my table and chairs from storage. I had no food in the house. Correction: I had carrots, purple cabbage, a couple of eggs, lemons from the front lawn tree...

I made a middle eastern style carrot/cabbage salad (beautiful color!) and fresh lemonade and had the reassurance that my guests were going to bring food pot luck style.

One by one my neighborhood kids escorted my guests to my door. Paul Simon's "Obvious Child" blared from my little radio and with candlelight the fellowship began.

Mezze came to my house: Christine brought sampler middle eastern plates, Sarah brought various beverages, Alan brought dessert, and Bonnie brought a vegetable curry.

We served food on my variety of plates, ate with the bamboo utensils and chop sticks, drank out of the mix-n-match of cups, and sat around my makeshift floor table, told stories, and laughed.

They filled my home with complements of how good the space felt and with warmth. I used my oven for the first time.

And I showed off my view of downtown Oakland from the lawn.

I was shy to show the insides of my house.

I am glad they pushed me to do it. After they left, I had their laughter as my lullaby. Our conversations fed my sleep to come.

River love. Much river love.

Of course, now I need to have a REAL housewarming and invite folks! Croquet on the lawn, anyone?