I had begun to miss the spontaneous dinner parties of my friend, Tiberio.
Tiberio makes magic food–his secret ingredients are passion and love. His dinner party guests are from the jumble of his collection of friends and acquaintances–always an eclectic array of other passionate and loving people.
But Tiberio has been busy traveling, and seeking himself; his parties have been sparse (if at all). So I was happy to hear his voicemail yesterday, inviting me to join him and his friends for an impromptu gathering.
I was less happy when I arrived at 6:30 and saw a room full of unfamiliar faces.
In general I haven’t been too swift lately, my social and emotional energies still being expended to adjust to my new marital status, so a room of unknown people initially presents itself as a chore. But this was Tiberio’s home and I have a history there which assures me that even “strangers” will be kind, sweet, and good company. So, I joined the fray.
The evening unfolded. There was good food and an array of conversations. As dinner was winding up someone mentioned that it was a nice way to spend Mark’s birthday.
Oh dear. Tiberio had not known there was a birthday in the house, and he had not created a cake. Now, Tiberio is a master with cakes–an official James Beard Award-winning pastry chef and everything. Spectacular cakes is something he loves to create and bestow on his friends. What, no cake? Oh dear.
And in a wink, he hoists a cantaloupe from the pantry shelf and converts it into a melon worthy of celebration.
A simple and majestic gesture, unleashing a flow of gratitude in my heart for the abundance of such beautiful people in my life.
