Monday, May 1, 2023

Amazing Dinner Party

 So it was a banner weekend for Wifey and me. Saturday Stu and Traci hosted a Top 5 dinner party I ever attended. It was just one of those evenings where everything came together -- a conspiracy towards a memorable event.

Wifey and I fetched Cara at the Vi, the luxury senior place she moved. Cara moved to the independent living section, and we thought it was silly -- Cara is very youthful and vigorous. But, she points out, she has no kids and just a sister in Arizona, and so wants to be in a place where you can "graduate" to an ALF and then Nursing, if needed. Hopefully it's not needed.

We navigated through Aventura to Aventura Lakes, the development of our hosts. We parked and went in -- Stu was mixing martinis and corking wine. Soon after Traci came down, looking spectacular and feeling great, and then Donna and Barry arrived, followed by Paul and Patricia and Allison. And then, surprise guests -- Susan and Steve. Susan is Stu's childhood Philly friend who is now a pediatrician in Boca, and Steve's Stu's best Emory Law friend -- Stu fixed the two up. It was supposed to be a dinner -- and now it's been decades of seders.

The real treat was that Val was there, as well as Ava. Ava is a graduating senior, and a beautiful girl, and I advised Stu to NOT let her go off to Alabama -- she's too attractive. "Oh -- she can't get in trouble at FIU or UM?" Well she could, but at least Stu was in threatening distance.

But the truth is, when my friends' kids soar, my heart is warmed, and Stu's are soaring.

Val started a media app in high school, and it's attracted SERIOUS funding. Val lives in a Penthouse Downtown with his partners, but makes the time to visit his elderly grandparents at least weekly. And last night, he hung with we Boomers, and supervised the cooking of delicious prime rib.

We ate well, and drank well, and had truly sparkling conversation. Val explained AI to us in a way that I finally understood -- and I was way impressed.

Those of us with grandkids assured those without that yes, it is the greatest of gigs. And there was just the right amount of nostalgia with Paul, Allison, Stuart, and I -- talking about our early days when our firms were lions. Well, at least Cheetahs.

Even Henry had a blast. Henry is Stu and Traci's 12 year old Corgi mix. He used his seal-like cuteness to score pieces of the prime rib under the table. Henry is a very sweet dog.

As we were leaving, Stu asked if it was a good time. No, I answered -- it was a GREAT time. I told him it was a party like the Medecis used to host, but without the plague.

Wifey drove home, and we circled the Lakes development a few times before I activated Navigation back to Cara's, and from there back home.

And the fun continued. Sunday D1 and Joey brought their men. The toddler and I killed our bagels and nova, and then Joey assembled a new wagon D1 had bought and had delivered here. We sat the brothers, and walked the 'hood -- in search of peafowl and iguanas. The iguanas hid -- we found plenty of peafowl, and Joey picked some mangoes. They're starting to be everywhere -- I wish I liked them.

After they left, we cleaned up the hurricane of toys, and settled in for some post grandchild naps. Later we watched "Succession," our newest Sunday night show, which D2 and Jonathan turned us on to when they were bunking here at Villa Wifey.

So it was a fine weekend! Martinis, prime rib, and most of all, those we love. You can't beat that with a big stick!

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