The morning despite it being a Saturday was much the routine for me as youth basketball was over and the gym was once more available to pickle ball so after my before 6 roll out, a few quiet moments to give thanks and reflect on life I had a bowl of cantaloupe before riding out to the rec on my bike for some hour and half of play. We had 3 courts in action with players waiting to get on. What a big change from Friday when we had only 3 players and I played against two for most of the morning. Nancy wanted to go to the beach by 10 so I left play a little early.
The beach was perfect and the water was warming up to perfection for swimming. Tyler brought the kiddos as Amy had a baby shower to attend at church. We had a splendid time playing with them and now little Eliza Faye has suddenly become a beach bunny whereas before she didn't like the sand or the water. Sam has also overcome his dislike and fear of the water and now rushes into the waves head first. I've never before seen such a sudden change in their behavior all most overnight for the beach. Needless to say after a couple hours of harnessing and watching all of this kiddos energy and the heat of the sun we were whipped. It was going on 1 PM before we got back to the house.
After a salad with leftover salmon I tuned into the Lightning playoff game and it was a thriller despite our team losing in a close contest 2-1. It is the best of 7 series so we still have ample time to win the series and play for the Stanley Cup. The Rangers have a couple of our former players and we have a couple of their former players but we played this game in their house which seems to make so difference with the noise level and cheering sections. After that game was over I tuned into the Ray's game and they to were losing to the Twins. We hit the showers as we got ready for the evenings festivities and celebration.
We left the house around 4:30 to pick up the Botbyl's and headed to down town Tampa in the Hyde Park section to the Copper Fish Restaurant. It was just down the street from Bern's Steak House which has been the number one restaurant in Tampa forever but this place we went was also voted in the top 10 places to eat as well. It was valet parking only if that tells you anything about the area.
Patrick Tracy had invited 18 close friends of Kathryn's to celebrate her up coming 60th birthday with a surprise dinner at this restaurant. Well I must say the service and food was very good and one of the best ever for me and Patrick footed the bill, totally. He planned this without her knowing and she was surprised as she and her daughter Lauren entered the eatery. He decide the night of dining and fellowship with her and all of her friends there were believers in Christ which I thought was unique in an of itself. What a great time we had and we got to know several who we had never met before who were millennial's (young folks in their 30's) as well as some of their senior friends who were our ages. (I think I may have been the oldest person of age in attendance). We had a table set up as you enter the eatery with all of the festive decorations and place of honor in the restaurant. It was very nice and the menu looked like it belonged on the shelves of a library.
My entree was Yellow Tail Tuna grilled to perfection with crab in a sauce over a special rice with shrimp, yeow is all I can say. This was basically a seafood place but Dan had a fillet that looked and smelled awesome and he too licked the platter clean. Nancy and Carol both had the chef's special of Maine lobster, crab, shrimp and scallops in a rich cream sauce over a grain. Delicious, as I tasted hers as well. Everyone seemed to love the food and we started with calamari, shrimp and oysters as appetizers. Yikes I don't think I've ever dined with such an array of different delicious seafood's. Well after the birthday cake and lots of great conversations, plenty of hugs and well wishes along with promises to friend folks on Face Book we headed out for home somewhere close to 9'ish or after. We sort of lost our way while heading in the right direction of old downtown Tampa and found another main road which took us a different way home. I actually stopped at a gas station and ask for directions(which is very unlike me) only to learn we were headed in the right direction and to verbal harassment (of I told you so) from the back seat drivers of Nancy and Carol. What a fun time we always have together with Carol and her continuous laughter.
Well what a full fun filled day and one we will talk about forever as we surprised Kathryn and for Patrick's generosity and the opportunity to mingled with their forever close friends. We were able share some of the experiences we have had together and while our friendship is relatively new compared to some of 30 years or more, we were honored to be within this circle of believers and their children who were both there and their friends, LATER
See you in the morning at Element Church in Tampa!!!
