Wednesday:) When Wonderful Old Friends Gather

“When you get together with old friends that you haven’t seen in a long time, it’s like it was only yesterday.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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We had our almost annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange tonight. The only thing missing was our dear friend Lin. Last year was a Covid kinda Christmas, and I wasn’t in Chicago, so we didn’t meet. But, most of the earlier years after I moved to Texas in ‘04, I would visit at Christmas and the old gang would get together. We used to bowl together when the kids were little, and we’ve been friends for over 30 years.

Vicky and I have a tradition. I visit her earlier in our get together day, and she makes me some of her famous baklava. We have tea and I Stuff my face with delicious fresh out of the oven baklava.

When it comes out of the oven, I always say, “Well, here’s mine. Didn’t you make any for yourself?” She sends me home with most of the remaining pan. I leave her a few pieces for her sweet husband, Nabeel.

Vicky has a vast collection of hand-painted Toni ornaments from over the years. She hung up this year’s right away. (She almost couldn’t find an open spot. Quite a collection from over 20 years of painting ornaments,)

Me, Dian, Vicky and Vivian. (Just missing our Lin, who was with family, but she was with us in spirit. Hopefully next Christmas we will be all together again.)

Vicky offered to host our dinner at her house because of my Covid concerns. We usually meet at a nice restaurant. That was very sweet. and they let me pick dinner options. Lou Malnati’s Pizza!!!! Score!