Arrrgh!!!

In that time, we have had a change in teachers, and the woman who leads us should get a major award for helping us to stay healthy! For the moment I'll call her "Slave Driver." *G*

Slave Driver leads us in 30 minutes of stretching and cardio, and then we do 15 minutes of balance, resistance, weight training and any other torture she can devise, and we all hop out of bed to be there for her. The class has become so popular that there are actually four more people registered than the room is supposed to hold.

We add a couple of other ingredients to the mix: friendship and laughter. We're likely to aggravate SD by talking during class, and I know it's frustrating for her when she hears a peal of laughter, and has missed the joke. Still, this interaction with her and with each other is a very important part of keeping healthy.

These ladies and gentlemen came to my home for brunch on Friday. We've been inviting them for four or maybe five years now, at the time when the iris are at their peak. We were blessed with a bright sunny day, and 32 of the class attended. The house was PACKED! The dishes they brought to share were incredible. Baked Vidalia onions, cooked red cabbage and apples, a cabbage roll casserole, chicken and rice, layered jello salads and I'm sure there were TWENTY DESSERTS!! It was like the best of a church pot luck.

When we host meetings like this I use my china. I have three sets, and there is no reason to own china if you don't use it. We also choose to use fabric table cloths and napkins, rather than plastic and paper. Every time we have a gathering like this, someone chides me for not using paper, and I just smile and think how much nicer it is to use REAL dishes. I've never had anyone break a dish in the 16 years we've lived in this house.

When I agree to host a gathering like this, I acknowledge there will be clean up to do once the last guest has left. I don't mind. It's a small price to pay for the joy of having friends in my home, and I tend to it in stages. I've gone through the process so often that I no longer give it any thought.

This time, though, I had help. After lunch I had the chance to show some of my quilts. Mother got to show what she is working on, and we talked with our friends about the iris. Those who had other things to do said their goodbyes, and the party wound down. Four of the ladies insisted on helping me with the clean up. I tried to shoo them out the door, but they were adamant. And, oddly, it was the best part of my day. We teased and chatted while Slave Driver washed and the others dried. I had the job of putting things away.

The tables were cleared of their linens, we folded up the library table, and I actually put the first of the loads of linens into the washer. When the washing was done, we sat around a table and chatted for another hour. My house was almost back to normal in thirty minutes, and I had the joy of time with my friends.

I know that I'm not writing this well, but I can't find the words I want to describe what an amazing day this was for me. I really value the friendship I have with these women, and I'm still on a high from the pleasure of their company. I'm blessed in a lot of ways, and this is one of the best.