A “Till We Meet Again” Dinner

I couldn’t believe this night had finally come. Could we really have spent the last 2 weeks with all of these people? Part of me felt like I had just met them and the other part felt like they were friends I had known a lifetime. Kevin and I both had some hiccups on this trip and I know that had we had a different group we might not be here today carrying on!

We all met in the lobby at 6:30 so we could head to dinner for one last time as a group. Our fearless leader, once again, got the whole mess of us to a neighborhood restaurant where we sat in a semi-private room at two huge tables. As always she had arranged a vegetarian option for me (I appreciate that more than she’ll ever know!) and a sad little slab of meat was served to the rest of the gang. When I say sad little slab of meat I’m referring to the source of the meat and not the quality. It seems, according to Kevin, that he has had some of the best meat in his life here in Europe, and I believe it…because here in Europe they only eat the babies!!! Poor, poor baby animals! Sigh.

Side story on Canada.  A few nights ago we were sitting around after dinner with a few of our Canadian friends just chatting, sharing stories, laughing and drinking. I can’t recall now what spurred this particular story, but I am passing it on for the world to enjoy! Apparently some years ago Bonnie, Denis, Gloria and Daryl were enjoying dinner out on the town and some black sambooca was ordered (a really dark, sticky, liquor). Someone sipped their sambucca and Gloria immediately protested (she is the feisty little one with the black hair you see in the pictures) and she grabbed her shot of smbucca and threw it down the hatch like the pro she is! Well, mid shot, she looked at Daryl who had a “oh lord, what is she doing?!” look on his face which resulted in her choking and laughing mid-shot! Well, we all know what happens when you laugh with a mouth full of booze! It has to go somewhere! And if your hand isn’t there to receive it, something will be, or in this case SOMEONE will be! Gloria showered poor, sweet, Bonnie who was clad in a brand new outfit, with a mouth full of black sambucca!!! It covered her and the wall behind her! The boys joke that the restaurant had  to be repainted after that night! I believe it. Oh Canada! How we will miss you!

Anyhoo, back to our night! We sat near Canada and part of Texas had an excellent meal. The pasta was delicious, of course, and the potatoes were to die for! Best I’ve ever had. Kevin gladly ate his baby cow and said it was delicious despite the fact that he doesn’t like veal (yeah right!).

The group had all gone in on a gift for Colleen; Cindy took the liberty of picking out a fabulous Swarski necklace and matching earrings for her. We gave it to her, along with a card, at the end of our meal. Then the toasts began. Some people said very sweet things, some couldn’t get a word out through their tears, and some were just down right funny. It was a fabulous end to a vacation of a lifetime. And just when we thought we had made it out of the woods, that we had been able to spend the two weeks with all of these moms and dads without the “pressure”, it began. Lauren stood up for one more toast! She toasted Kevin and I and our future child that she is hoping to meet in 9 or so months! Everyone gasped wondering if she knew something they didn’t! (SHE DOESN’T! I AM NOT PREGNANT!) But the crowd carried on, clapping and cheering and laughing! They really believed that a baby was on its way! I stood up to immediately protest and squash the roomer that she had so quickly started! But she wasn’t done yet! She continued on and said that she hopes if we have a girl we will name it Colleen and a boy, Ben (after our driver!). We all laughed and drank, and laughed some more! Names were now flying out of the crowd, “Paris! Florence…” It all happened so quickly that I missed a lot of it, but before I knew it Daryl yelled out “his middle name shall be GRAPPA!!! (The Italian booze we’ve been drinking since Austria that puts hair on your chest and courage in your heart!). Well, just as Daryl shouted “GRAPPA” Kevin burst out into laughter! The problem? He had a mouth full of beer!!!!!! And who was he sitting across from?! Before I knew what had happened I looked down and saw poor, dear, sweet Bonnie COVERED IN BEER! He had sprayed her like a fire hose! It was everywhere, in her hair, on her glasses, down her shirt! It took a second for all of us to process what had happen, and once Canada and I realized Kevin had just done EXACTLY what Gloria had done some years ago we roared with laughter! The entire group laughed, but only us and the Canadians could appreciate the irony of what had just happened! Kevin almost died tonight. I have never seen him so ashamed and embarrassed in my entire life. He buried his head in his napkin for what felt like forever and all you could see was the sides of his face peering out from behind it, they were so red I thought he was going to spontaneously combust! Daryl asked Gloria if she had paid Kevin to do that so she wouldn’t have to be the only one that lives with the shame of knowing that she showered poor Bonnie in spit and booze! But we all agreed, money couldn’t buy a moment like that. What a grand finale.

You’d think that after that the night would be over, but it wasn’t. We dried Bonnie off, laughed some more, and then it came time to say goodbye to those who were flying out early. I cried, like a baby. I was so sad to know that not only was our vacation ending, but this was the last time we’d ALL be on vacation together. It really was a once in a lifetime experience, and a wonderful one. We gave our hugs and kisses and promised future visits (I hope we all keep our words!). More than a few of the couples pulled me aside and assured me that we need to have our kids now because we would make wonderful parents and we will never regret having them, not even for a moment. George was perhaps the most touching of all. He and I were walking alone and he said to me “you guys are ready for children…Kevin is an AMAZING man and will make an amazing dad”. What a sweet compliment. And he is absolutely right. Kevin…you amaze me every day! Sometimes it is because I can’t imagine how I convinced a sweet, funny, handsome, faithful man like you to marry me, and other times, well, did you REALLY just shower Bonnie in beer? You are truly amazing in EVERY way!

The 14 or so of us who weren’t ready to call it a night headed over to an Irish pub for a couple of final rounds together. We drank, and laughed, and talked, and drank some more. We said some more goodbyes and the few of us that are going to be here in the morning decided that one more meal together would be great, so we are meeting at 10am for breakfast! Yes, we are FINALLY sleeping in!

Goodnight.