On the Fourth of July, we will be in Chicago visiting old friends. We lived there for eight years in the ’60s, and they are planning a party for us.
A couple of close friends are gone, but we’ll remember them and toast them.
First, Don and I will stay two nights in a hotel in the city, and then take the train to our old neighborhood in the suburbs.
It’s always amazing when we see people we were so close to. Some haven’t changed much at all — and some actually look better.
Some have had to slow down; a few have medical problems.
Didn’t you always say that you didn’t want to grow old and talk about someone’s sciatica or arthritis? Well, when you get to a certain age, you don’t mind listening for a few minutes.
Of course, there are neighbors I try to avoid since that’s all they can talk about.
Then it comes around to the old days.
We reminisce about those good old days when we could party two nights in a row without calling an ambulance.
Every Halloween, we went to a party in the same house; and most of us made our costumes. (After all, there were prizes.)
The neighbors all took a certain day for their party — New Year’s, Christmas, July 4, Memorial Day. You name it and we partied.
Babysitters took naps before they took the job; they never knew how long the party would last.
We go to parties now, too. By 10 p.m., the hosts have already gone to bed. Of course, the party started at 5.
Does anyone remember the Seinfeld episode in which he visited his parents in Boca Vista, Fla.? They headed for dinner at 4 p.m. to get the half-price dinner.
Personally, I don’t like to eat early. At 9 o’clock, you’re hungry again.
We go out to dinner quite often, but my rule is it has to be at least 6:15 when we leave the house. And when we get to the restaurant, we always meet a couple we know who are on their way out.
Next weekend our whole family will be here. We’re making reservations for 17 at 7 p.m., even though there will be seven kids.
First of all, they snack all day. It’s hard to please everyone. The young kids are so excited to see their cousins that we might as well ask for doggy bags when we walk in.
All I know is that I’ll have a smile plastered on my face because I didn’t have to make dinner.
Breakfast will be enough, thank you very much. I’m stocking up on eggs and bagels.
