Day 23, May 8, A Tale of Two Bobs

Today was supposed to be a good day, but the weather was not cooperating. It was Patrise's birthday and it was Mothers' Day. We could not get a reservation at a decent restaurant -- we tried over a week in advance, but with no success -- so Patrise decided to make her own Mother's' Day/Birthday brunch. After some morning talk and tea with Bob & Jane, Bob took us to the local food coop and an Acme grocery store to shop for the brunch ingredients. From there, he drove us to Bob Holloway's house.

(Here's where some background would add helpful context. We were staying with Bob Kaufman and Jane Shure. As I mentioned in yesterday's entry, Bob K and I went to high school and have become much closer friends in adult life than we ever were in high school. On the other hand, Bob Holloway has been a lifelong friend for Patrise and I since college days. Bob H and Patrise were classmates, in the same Georgia Tech freshman class of 1976. He later followed me as a president of the Tech chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. He eventually went to grad school at The Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania. Though separated by distance, the three of us have always been close friends.

Both Bobs are dear friends, and they both live in Philadelphia. This has enabled us to see both of them during this one stop.

As I was saying, Bob K took us to Bob H's house, where Patrise and I celebrated her Mother's Day and birthday. After waiting for awhile for Bob H to return home from church, the three of us worked in the kitchen -- Patrise as the executive chef, while Bob and I served as sous chefs -- and caught up on the past several years, since we've seen one another. Bob's wife and daughter, Daphne and Maia, were not in town, because they had gone to western Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburg, to visit Daphne's mother and aunt. They had taken off a week to do so; Bob was unable to get away from work for that long, so that's while he was not with them.

We prepared a wonderful meal, under the guidance and skill of our fearless culinary leader, and we had a great conversation catching up with each other.

Arriving at Bob Holloway's house

Bob H's house, groceries waiting for his arrival.

Bob and Patrise sitting for the birthday/Mothers' Day brunch: salmon croquettes, croissants, homemade biscuits, scrambled eggs, mixed fruit (kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries)

The selfie before brunch

Simba, Bob Holloway's Akita

Brunch before diving in.

After brunch and a nice visit with Bob H., we returned to Bob K and Jane's house. We spent the evening talking with them and catching up further. Bob prepared the dinner meal of swordfish, grilled asparagus, and salad. It was late in the evening after dinner, so we retired to bed to get ready for the next day.

Bob K and his dog, Oscar, indulging in one of Oscar's favorite things: getting a blow dry after getting wet (typically while on a walk.)