Still practicing

It is with a certain satisfaction & joy that I’m under way with making a chicken pie. The filling is just cooling before I roll out the pastry. I’m still feeling the benefit of our stay away. We’re still bemused that one lady who’d been sitting at a nearby table while we were dining, came over to tell us how much she’d enjoyed the fact that we were talking so animatedly together over our meal. It’s so rare these days to hear people talking to one another. I couldn’t help commenting, that we were there to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Just before the wedding I’d nearly called it all off as I panicked over the thought of having to talk to the same person for the rest of my life, but now, over 42 years later, we still find there is so much to discuss.  Maybe it’s just that we believe in practice makes perfect, & the art of good conversation is an art we enjoy practicing frequently.

Saturday brought a phone call from one of my cousins to give me an update on her part of the family’s news. Her brother has had to have a pacemaker inserted. His heartbeat was too slow, though now it’s going too fast so the pacing has to be adjusted a bit. Her son-in-law, married to her younger daughter, is having investigations into a stomach/intestinal problem. Her granddaughter, child of her older daughter, & just 4years old, has been diagnosed as having celiac disease. She is apparently worse in summer than winter. They suspect it is something to do with the skins of potatoes. New potatoes she always has with skins on, old without. Anyhow, the young lass is going to have to go into hospital for some biopsies. It seems so young but I suppose it’s best to find out now as it will no doubt affect the rest of her life.

Last night we had another phone call to let us know some friends had just become grandparents. Our friends were clearly thrilled by the news. Some of their joy rubbed off on us. It inspired us to sit, put on some music, and yes, chat with one another. Well, we have to keep practicing don’t we?