The Kindness of Friends

I fry chopped onions and garlic, add tomatoes and tomato paste, ground beef and sausage and seasonings and let it simmer for a few hours.  I boil pasta, drain it and put it in a large serving bowl.  I make garlic bread, and perhaps a green salad.  Everything is out on the counter and people pick up a plate and dish up some spaghetti, salad and bread.  Each grabs a napkin and some utensils, and then gets himself a drink.

Dinner at the Madsens.

I am learning here about how to be a gracious host.....and that begins with setting the atmosphere.  I am seeing a pattern here, and I love it.  But I am not sure I can duplicate what I have seen.

Doris and Michael invited us to dinner for his birthday tonight.  We were to be there at 6.

We took the bus across town and then walked maybe half a mile to their apartment.  We got there at 5:50, so we stood outside in the rain under our umbrella....boy that is pleasant.....I love it.  I am going to take the Mary Poppins umbrella home just in case it rains at some point in Gilbert after August 29.

We rang the doorbell close to 6 and were warmly welcomed in.  Doris was bustling about the kitchen with her friend.  Michael put a small platter of nuts and pretzels out.  We visited for a few minutes before his mother, aunt and brother arrived.  At that point Michael fixed everyone a drink and made SK and me a non-alcoholic drink that was very tasty.

We sat and visited for over an hour.  I used more Danish tonight than I ever have.  I had to.  Michael's aunt spoke very little English, and I guess it was a mutual decision that my poor Danish was a better way to communicate.  In the meantime, SK talked to Michael's mother, who seemed surprised as well as delighted to be able to talk to him.  They chatted away about all kinds of things, and I was as enchanted as she was to hear him talk.  He was quite entertaining, and I was grateful that I didn't have to talk very much.  At one point, there were conversations going on in Danish, some in English and some in Spanish.  (I even contributed some to the Spanish!)

I talked more to Michael's brother, who, like all younger Danes spoke fluent English.  Both men are in their thirties.  Michael was born in 1976......someone else I know (very well) and love (and has a broken foot) was born that year....a very good year.

Michael lit the candles and we were all shown to our seats at a beautifully set table.  The goblets were filled (Doris called earlier in the week to see what we can drink, and so had Fanta and water for us), and the first course of Cerviche was brought out.  Each plate had everything artfully arranged.  It was delectable white fish in a very flavorful and light sauce served over a bed of lettuce with slices of sweet potato and zucchini.  It had been cooked in lemon and cilantro.  It was sooooo good!  I could have ended the meal right there and been enormously happy.

Doris cleared the table....and we talked some more.  About a half hour later she served each of us a plate with a chicken thigh, sliced white potatoes in a very unusual and excellent white sauce, and a lovely little mound of delicately seasoned rice...perfectly shaped.

We ate and talked and laughed.  She cleared up the plates and we relaxed some more, talking about all kinds of things.  Around 10:00, she brought out a dessert that looked and tasted a little like flan....but better than any flan I have ever had.  It was truly delicious....a melt in your mouth marvel.  After we ate that, Michael brewed up some coffee for everyone and made sure the water pitcher was there by us.  We stayed at the table with everyone else, and around 10:30 began to wonder if it was time to make our exit.

About that time Michael brought out a layer cake that he had made.  It was a boysenberry confection between thin layers of yellow cake and topped with chocolate ganache and whipped cream.  I was already full, but I managed to eat a good-sized piece and enjoyed every bite.  He told us that he normally puts a kind of alcoholic drink in the boysenberry stuff, but put something else in so that we could eat it.

We stayed until about 11:30 and then gave them profuse thanks for a wonderful dinner and evening.  We hugged them, donned our coats and scarves, grabbed the Mary Poppins and walked back to the bus stop (we actually ran the last block when we saw the bus approaching....and we made it!...what luck at that time of night).

We got home a little while ago, and here we are again, the night owls of the Denmark Copenhagen Mission.

 Doris was the dear friend I spent some late-night hours with a few weeks ago who was having some mighty struggles with panic and anxiety.  She was able to get some help from the medical system here which has been very impressive in their response and assistance.  She is doing so well now.

I wish I could adequately share with you what a sweet experience that was. I know Doris and Michael worked yesterday and all day today.  She and her friend, Christine were on their feet cooking and preparing nearly the whole time we were there.  They served each plate with such joy and delight.  They served all of us as though we were royalty.  Isn't that incredible?

Doris is familiar with us and knows we always wear our badges, but at first, all of the others looked at our badges uneasily...probably concerned that we were going to turn the evening into an uncomfortable time for all.  And I think the perception of us is that we give hard sells similar to an Amway salesman.

And while I would absolutely love being able to share what is the core of our lives....about the Savior and the whole great wonderful Plan of Happiness, tonight was not the time or place.  Maybe I will still have that opportunity someday.  I would love to share it because it works...it brings joy and peace.

What we did share tonight was friendship and enjoyable time getting to know each other.  I love Doris, and the more I get to know Michael ...the more I love him.  Probably for the same reasons I love Ethan, Derek T and Peter.....because they love my daughters.....love them tenderly.

His mother and aunt and Christine - what wonderful people.  I feel profoundly blessed to have these opportunities to meet and get to know remarkable individuals.

My life has expanded more than I ever thought possible.  ( My waist as well....but we'll talk about that at another time!)