We are looking for a place to have lunch, but nothing will do. You see, I have a trick up my sleeve, and crowded bistros, delis, and diners won't do.
Finally, we abandon the center of town. Usually we hit the outer edge of Portsmouth and do some competitive candlepin bowling, but we are not bowling today. I suggest we head to our usual haunt, Panera, on the opposite side of town. We grab our usual lunch and settle in to a table right at the front windows, a great spot for people-watching.
As soon as my sister finishes her lunch and moves her dishes out of the way, I reach into my pocketbook, a semi-large thing with pockets and zippers and snaps. Onto the table I plop a Cribbage board and a new deck of cards. Well, they're unopened, but they were produced in 1997, so they're new to us but not really "new" new. No matter, they're cards, just the same, cards with a Christmas-themed Norman Rockwell scene.
I sense a new Christmas tradition forming -- so, if anyone else wants to join, we'll be at Panera the weekend before the holiday. You can't miss us: we'll be the card players who are people-watching, sharing cookies, and laughing louder than anyone else in the place.
Who knows? Maybe we'll graduate to board games next year. If not, there's always bowling.
Happy almost-Holidays.
