A Warm Welcome

As I looked at the array of pies, cakes, and cookies on Fran’s table yesterday, I said, “Okay, let’s skip the soup and salads and go straight to the desserts.”

Fran’s April luncheon was colorful and inviting, as her luncheons always are. I didn’t count the number of women gathered, but it was a table full. A really intriguing thing about those luncheons is the guests, although we come from varied backgrounds and many different states, visit, laugh, and chatter over tasty food in perfect harmony. I believe our spirits are fed, as well as our bodies.

As always, Fran’s small, furry orange co-hostess circulated among the guests, her green eyes friendly and welcoming. Miss Kitty is very much a part of each gathering. That cat has empathy with each of us. I felt that I could tell her anything, share any burden, and she would listen attentively, offering her special brand of understanding as well as her soft little paw for a friendly handshake. Is it any wonder that I put another Persian cat (although mine is white) in my soon-to-be released mystery, Grave Heritage, whose name is Miss Kitty?

Happily, many of the Cozy Critters were at the luncheon. It was good to talk to Peg, Nancy, Jane, and Judy we well as the non-Critters who were present.

Judy, who is scurrying from Texas to Oklahoma in her preparations for moving, found time to come to the luncheon. She brought a picture of the house she hopes will soon be hers in the Lone Star state. I’m not quite sure how it happened, but several of us drifted into Fran’s living room after lunch. We admired Judy’s picture and somehow, someway, our conversation turned to movies and books and the obvious fact that old-time male stars like John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, were, in our humble opinions, far superior to today’s actors. Then, someone mentioned Cape Fear, the really scary film starring Robert Mitchum. Judy related a true story of her teen years and walking home with a friend one night after viewing the movie and being scared nearly out of their wits. Jane, Janet, Peg, Susan, Judy, and I sat shivering as we re-lived that old black and white movie.

Finally, we each left to go to our respective homes. Even though the wind was cold, we were warm and refreshed, already looking forward to the next monthly luncheon.