After shopping at the health food market, we sat debating what to do about dinner. Tentative plans for fish at Knights of Columbus in FDL had been cancelled. Thai? Mexican? We still weren't sure as we headed south on Richmond. Low & behold, a vast parking lot with a flashing sign announcing the VFW Friday fish fry. Kismet! We parked and made our way across the street to their hall. Funny how after all of these years we had never noticed it before. Wheelchair entrance through the back door, past the kitchen. The waitress greeted us and seated us at a plain old vinyl covered table near the back of the high ceilinged room. "This is such a typical Wisconsin scene" Cully remarked, and it was.
We pondered the menu briefly. "Ooh, perch... pricey though" said he. "So what, you're worth it" said me. He ordered a double serving, what the heck. I ordered the baked haddock Oscar, lured by the crab, shrimp, & asparagus. Not cheap either. We shared a bowl of fish chowder. Oh my gosh, it was divine! Our girl next door waitress brought our food, piled in red plastic baskets. Not fancy. But the food, oh the food was special. 'Wow, great potato salad" Cully commented, extending his fork for me to taste. Yum. "Try mine" I popped a gigantic succulent shrimp into his mouth. And so it went.
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He nodded towards a table across the room, along the wall. The 30 something couple was kissing. We grinned broadly and gave them a thumbs up in unison. They smiled at us. We dawdled, nibbled, shared, licked fingers, and generally enjoyed our new discovery. Not fancy by a long shot, just simple pleasures. When the couple left, he swung past the table to wish us a good night, what nice people!
A few minutes later the waitress approached. "You know that couple that just left?" she asked, nodding towards the now empty table. "They wanted me to tell you what a pleasure it was to see two people so much in love as you two are." We were speechless, here we'd been thinking that of them... "They paid your bill, it's been taken care of... the whole thing!" She seemed as stunned as we were.
My eyes filled with tears... of course. We weren't aware of any obvious displays of affection. If anything, we were hungry hungry hippos simply enjoying our food together. Our waitress was moved and delighted as well. Again, faith in mankind and the goodness of humanity shone brightly upon us. What a blessing our life together is. Our love bloomed into something deeper and more meaningful tonight as we were humbled by such an act of kindness from fellow lovers of life.
