Plates To Share

Many of life's happiest moments in our family are around a meal.
The first one we shared, in The UK, certainly was, as well.

Oh what a great night!
Dinner… with my littlest! I haven’t seen her at all, in months.
Well, earlier, but, this is different. This was a real meal, not a quick hello and tour of her flat
This time I get to talk for a while and listen, as she tells me her life

Showered, and off to the Tube
We meet at South Kensington Station, on the District line
She’s there on the platform, and wow!
So grown up, makeup, serious young professional shoes
but sooo sooo skinny.
She lost weight
It's scary to me, but she’s not eating my meals, and so, my youngest daughter is smaller and almost tooo small
So, we meet at the station, and hugs, and she moves
LIKE LIGHTNING! off, my Speedy City girl!!!
ZOoooms

She’s leading to the part of the city
and I look around, and its almost 8, now
and she’s like them
the young city professionals
fits in, blends
she’s so happy now
enjoying her lifestyle

So, we go from District to the Picadilly line and emerge at Picadilly Circle, with this big huge statue in the center
and the neon signs like Times Sq in NYC...but with that British flair.
The UK office of Warner Music is right across from my hotel
...and this town is the home of THAT history and more…!

...so, she’s cute… with her phone, looking for the place I want
and she’s to be host. She’s got some app.

This restaurant is right behind her, but she wants so badly to be the guide and hostess. I won’t say anything...
and I am shocked when she leads us a bit here and there and then back to it.

She’s so happy she found it, so, she leads us in, and says dinner for 3
and the Host?
big, big man
6’ 5”? Solidly built
but that Italian look.

Everyone speaks it; we’re seated, and he’s looking at her, and every woman
as they come in. The table next to us, 4 women, a mom, 3 ladies
all of them, dark hair, and tans
mom’s looks fake, or too much
leathery
but she was a beauty, dark, in her day
and the girls are so pretty
that’s why this guy fawns over them, all night
and the waitress rolls her eyes, each time he shows

So she asks if we’ve been
and my daughter says no and these are my parents visiting, and I am studying here
she’s trying so
to be grown up

and then we order
I ordered the Asparagus, wrapped in prosciutto
with this cream sauce, lemony

I cut each dish, and serve them on the their plates
and they love it
then, I ordered a margarita pizza
cuz her fave

He’s back fanning over her.
and then moves to the young ladies and I am thinking he’s a perve
and realize, that I am jealous
he gets to flirt for a living.

She is so happy when I order the pizza
and they split that(its small)

then, I ordered another two (one was a chicken spicy, with pepper and prosciutto
and the last, also both a fave of theirs!

My daughter snaps me out of my dream, and she’s going on about each day and her little daily things
and much of this she said in emails, or over FaceTime, etc
but its so nice to hear in person

the last dish comes
Gnocchi with parmesan baskets and a creamy cheese
and they are so happy

after, I order us all a cognac, and they pick their desserts
and we eat and finish

we are done, but not even close to full

I am falling down asleep, tired
so bed time now