Perfection

Once in awhile, if you're lucky, you have one of those days when you say, "It just doesn't get any better than this."  I'd be lying if I said I hadn't dreaded the drive down to the valley, but it turned out to be a piece of cake.  Traffic was light and polite all the way both coming and going, even through Sacramento.  No white knuckles on the wheel even once.

How grand it is to be greeted with open hearts and arms and winning smiles.  Even Clyde, the very vocal cat, said hello.  He actually said a lot more throughout the day, particularly about the spareribs.  The weather was kind and it was most pleasant to sit with Deb under the big umbrella on the patio with a portable mister that uses recycled water while Craig worked magic at the barbecue.  Ice-cold lemonade tinkled in our glasses as we watched hummingbirds at the feeders nearby.  Perfectionists in all that they do, Deb and Craig showed with pride their raised garden beds, bursting with herbs, flowers, and vegetables.  I had thought to take an American Gothic type of photo of the urban farmers, but those smiles said it all.  I've never known a couple who work so well together.  When the grill master brought the meat off the barbecue, we sat down to a delicious meal of baby back ribs, baked beans (which had turned out well), and KFC coleslaw (which, in our opinion, is the best!).  Only Clyde was talking, begging for a rib, as we munched away.  Time flew by and just as I was getting ready to leave, Craig's mom and dad, Terry and Arvin, popped in; such a nice surprise.

Why is it that the road home seems so much shorter than the trip away?   I replayed my wonderful day with the Kids on the drive.  It was good to come home to be welcomed by Bessie and the cats, all of whom said they'd missed me terribly and where was their dinner.

It was a perfect day.