Today is Lunch Bunch. I’ve told you before that two friends and I as the core – plus others who have joined us over the years – meet for lunch on Fridays at The Pizza Barn. We have done this for over 20 years now. We catch up on what has happened the past week, what is coming up, have great food, wonderful conversation, laughs and tears.
That remains – thank goodness, but there is a change. Susan, one of our waitresses, has decided to retire. Her last day is NEXT Friday, the 24th. She wants to spend more time with her grandchildren.
We are happy for her and are “crying into our beers” otherwise, selfishly. Susan IS the Pizza Barn. We have shared things every Friday with Susan, too. She brings us our lunches, and has helped us celebrate birthdays and Christmas, has shared good news and bad, and is as much a part of the group as the people sitting at the big table. We have exchanged birthday gifts. She is on my Christmas list. She is a friend.
She – with Mikey (our other wonderful waitress/friend) – gave us her retirement news last Friday. I was talking to another of the Lunch Bunchers this morning, deciding what we would do for the proper send-off next week. We are both really sad. We realize that’s selfish, but it’s a gut level reaction.
We will try to get her to come to Lunch Bunch, bringing the grandkids, but we know that it will be a rare thing, and that Lunch Bunch – one of the truly bright spots of our world each week – won’t be the same.
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