Saturday, April 28, 2018

The more the merrier

There’s a restaurant brewery built on top of a piece of local history—a large natural cave. I can’t imagine walking into the cave with just a torch or flashlight and a lot of nerve, but its walls are marked by the names of those who did, dating back to the 1870s.

In my lifetime the cave was a party spot. The city blocked off the entrance when the partying got out of hand and to stop other illicit activities. Access to the cave reopened once the brewery took over the property. I toured it a couple of years ago with a group from work. It’s very cool, but I did avoid sticking my head into the chamber where bats congregate during the day.

Blaine chose this brewery for his birthday get-together. Apparently he has some memories of it from his college days but he wouldn't give up the details.Yet. I plan to get them.

The weather today was sunny and calm, perfect for sitting on the large covered patio for several hours, which is what we did. We arrived early to try to save a few tables but were asked not to. We could do it inside, but they didn’t like for people to take over the outdoor space. I sent a text to Eve and to Mica asking if they could come early, and they did, each sitting at a table. We fooled no one, but no one challenged us. It wasn’t long before others arrived and filled those tables plus a couple of others.

Having met Blaine last Sunday, Mica was more comfortable coming tonight. I was glad I could finally introduce her to Eve and Paul, and she met Kim and John too, all people I’ve talked about.

The group was similar to the one that gathered on St. Patrick’s Day. There were a few additions from the tailgate group and Blaine’s office. I met one of Blaine’s oldest friends, a guy he went to law school with. And I met another guy, too...

Since we weren’t supposed to move tables, our group was clustered but separated. I was feeling social, a rarity, and tried to speak to everyone. On my way back from the restroom, I stopped at a table where a guy was sitting alone, his chair angled toward the group. He was following the conversations but wasn’t participating. I introduced myself, sat down, asked how he was doing. Boy, did he told me. His boss is an idiot, a real asshole, and this week was particularly bad. He spared few details. I decided between all he had on his mind and all of the beer he’d obviously consumed that he was more in the mood to brood than socialize with everyone. I tried to reassure him life would suck less in the morning, and when I could I used needing to use the restroom as an excuse to get away. He needed a friend, not me. I thought I could get one of the others to keep him company.

I walked inside and took a long route through the restaurant so I could get to the patio from another door. I had a chair next to Blaine and sat down. I leaned over and asked him who the guy—Doug I had learned—was. Blaine leaned forward so he could see who I was talking about. He gave a little shrug, told me he didn’t know. I started to tell him where the guy worked in case that jogged his memory but the realization that I had just sat down uninvited and introduced myself to a stranger began to sink in. I broke out in a grin, laughed a little bit.

Blaine smiled. “What happened?”

I noticed Doug—since we were pals now—was standing to leave, and I waited until he’d gone inside before I told Blaine (and all in earshot) what I’d done. Mica and Eve dissolved into laughter, an instant bond forming over their shared knowledge of what kind of situations I can get myself into. Kim, always kind, said I was a good person. Blaine seemed to agree with the whole assessment.

Blaine had a good night with everyone. Afterward, he and I went to his house. We tried sitting on the deck but it had become too chilly. We settled on the couch, a slight breeze coming in from the screened patio door that Blaine had left open.

“Next weekend,” he said, “let’s plan to do something that’s just two of us.” A flutter of Yes corkscrewed through me. But I had to tell him I have a family birthday to go to next Saturday and for some reason it isn’t starting until 5:00. I also may be at Eve and Paul’s if they decide not to take Izzy with them when they visit their daughter. “Let’s plan to do something that’s just the two of us and a collie then.” Sounds good to me.

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