The best meal I ever had ...

Do you ever read something or watch something on tv and later think about how you would have reacted if that question or event had happened to you? That happened to me today, I picked up a new book Kim gave me last night, "Finding Your Own North Star" and have thought about one sentence I read.
It was not such a profound sentence/question, but it did cause me think about myself and past life events.The question the author asked someone was, tell me all the details about what you remember about the best meal you ever had?
Later that day, I thought about that question and started thinking about how I would answer that question. It is funny but every time I started to think about a great meal I have had in my life, I did not first think about the food. I first thought about where it was, a restaurant, a friends home, etc. But after I thought of an event/place where I had a really great meal, the next thing I thought of was not the food, but the people and the moments of that event. Isn't that what it is all about when eating with friends etc? Not just to enjoy the food, but most of all to enjoy the people you are with.
My husband just does not get it when we are in a causal restaurant and there is a t.v. and he spends more time looking at it then paying attention to me. Hey, go sit at the bar alone, you sure don't want to enjoy my company! Or why most times I really don't mind waiting for a table if there is someplace comfortable to wait and I am with someone I enjoy. Hey just more time to talk, relax and enjoy one anothers company. I am on the go so much, moments like this are great.
I love going out with friends, etc to a restaurant. Not just for the food, again that is nice and I want the food to be good, but what I look forward to the most is the time that I can spend with my husband, my children, my friends and not have to worry about the food. We can enjoy our time together while someone else serves the food, takes away the dishes, etc. I so enjoy the relaxing and conversation and of course good food. If I am with someone I enjoy, and the food is good, wow, what a great time. And of course, throw in some good wine and it is perfect.

So when I think about some great meals I have had I think about sitting on an outside deck on St. Thomas, the weather was perfect, the food was great, and Kim and I were having a great time talking, enjoying the view and calling our husbands back home and letting them know how great, and warm it was there. Or the time my mom, sister and daughter were in Mangalino's in Chicago having a huge meal, more than we all could eat, but it was so great being in such a great city with three unbeliveable women that I love dearly. We had such a great time. Or the time Marv and I ate and drank a little too much that when we were leaving a little beach side pub, we walked into the closet instead of out the door!

Do I remember what I had to eat those events and others like it? Yes, I could tell you what we had to eat at all the events I just named and many more like it, but when I think of those great meals, it is the people that I shared them with first and the great time we had before I will recall the food.

I am looking forward to reading more of the book to see what the author would think of my answer to her question.