Monday, May 14, 2001
Delightful Dinner Disaster - To LTF
Dinner last night was horrible and perfect. Weird. We made reservations for the patio on which three other families celebrating Ancient Mothers were seated at approximately the same time. Almost immediately the restaurant wait staff began a series of apologies for shortage after shortage; food, silverware, plates, napkins, even wait staff. It was amazing! The four of us families passed overages from table to table, complained a little (mostly the kids) but ended up having this wonderful community picnic in which everyone shouldered the "burden" so no one was actually burdened. The management was very solicitous. We all got huge discounts, free drinks, appetizers and gift certificates for dinners. Everyone agreed that this was one of the few memorable Mothers' Days in their lives. There was even a crochety 87 year old patriarch who roared his displeasure on his wife's behalf several times as his wife reminded him that "This isn't Fathers' Day. You'll get your turn next month." In the meantime all the Old Ones told stories about similar experiences in their lives. It was especially gratifying that my mother and a few members of her generation got to participate in an event so obviously mismanaged as this one. Doing the best with what one's got is something her generation turned into an art. I think it delighted her and her peers at the Porterhouse, last night, to be asked one more time for the good of the citizenry to make lemonade out of lemons.
