Since yesterday was the first Friday of Lent, John and I decided to go out for a Fish Fry. The Friday Fish Fry is a very, very popular Lenten staple in Rochester. Beer-battered and fried golden and crispy, it is delicious. We like to try different restaurants. Sometimes we get a really great fish fry, sometimes not so great. Last night we decided to try a restaurant my friend, Karen, had told me about. Everyone in our family wanted in on the meal. It was late by the time we left the house and everyone was so hungry. Hunger, in our family, often leads to crabbiness, so we knew that the sooner we found the restaurant the better.
Unfortunately, I did not know the name of the restaurant. All I knew was that it was a diner and its general location. When she told me about the restaurant, it sounded easy to find, so we drove to find it. We did not see it on our first pass through the area where it was supposed to be. Or on the second try. By the third time down the road, we were all a bit testy. John found it difficult to believe that I didn’t know the name or address of the restaurant. Complaints about being hungry were growing louder. Finally, Sam saved the day. As we drove by one restaurant, he announced that his girlfriend, Julie, had once applied there and that the people there were nice. That was all we needed. We did a quick u-turn and pulled into the parking lot.
The restaurant where we ended up may or may not have been the one Karen told me about. Four of us ordered the Fish Fry and it was delicious. Emily (our vegetarian) ordered Fettucini Alfredo and it looked and smelled wonderful. As we settled in with our food, we started telling stories. Somehow, the stories just got funnier and funnier. We all laughed and laughed. Emily was laughing so hard that she said her stomach hurt. I laughed so hard that tears were streaming down my face.
To say we had a great time would be an understatement. That meal was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time. It is unusual for all five of us to be together for dinner on Friday night and that made this Friday Fish Fry extra special. Good food plus great company plus laughter added up to an evening we will all remember.
Losing Vision Gaining Insight 
Such a lovely time You truly are blessed!
I am blessed. It was so wonderful to be all together and laughing! Thanks, Thelma. It is so good to hear from you!
Belinda:
That is wonderful: Wed. was hard for me…None of us were able to attend service together. It made me very sad but knew I had an opportunity to to kick-start lent as a family on Thursday…The kids come back to us on Thursdays after they spend a few days with their mom. we all agreed that for our lent we would all help with family diners from beginning to end…We are on day three and we are still going strong. Our family diner time has always been a part of my single life with the kids and I am blessed that Melissa cherishes it so much also. I remember my family diners…and Kelsey and Conley will remember them also……It is a moment that is hard to come by with busy lives but I feel it is so important…..
Peace and Love to you, John and the kids..
We just got our wedding video back last week and love remembering our day and the happiness and love that surrounded us….
Chris, thank you so much for your comment. It is so great that you didn’t let your initial disappointment about Wednesday make you give up on Lent. It sounds like your family is going to have a wonderful time with your Lenten choice to prepare and eat together whenever possible. Great memories will be made! You are a great couple and a great family. Love you all.