dinner with my mom and her friends

I’m on the Bolt Bus at 8am, and on the Cape by 2.  I’m visiting my mom for a week.

My mother is easy to like.  She is a youthful 84, with many friends of all ages.

Tonight we got to dinner with two of them, both of whom I enjoy very much. Cindy, 71, lives across the street, and she and her husband have been good friends of my parents for many years.  Maria, 45, was initially my father’s caretaker, but became very close to my mother.  She is originally from Columbia, speaks Spanish better than English, and is incredibly kind and feisty.  She made my father’s last days so much better. His face always lit up every time Maria sailed into his room with a big smile and the words, “How’s my Georgie doing today?”  My father used to call Maria his angel, and she was — both to him, and my mom.

The four of us are eating at Red’s, one of the restaurant’s at the Sea Crest Resort.  

About an hour before leaving, my mom asks, “So what are you wearing?”  I look online and the restaurant is described this way:

Each night Red's draws sun-lovers, sports enthusiasts, executives, beach bums and visitors … this casual eatery will welcome you …

So I say, “I think I’ll wear jeans.”

“Why don’t you wear something nicer?  Did you bring a pair of pants other than jeans?”

“No.” 

“Okay, then wear your jeans, it really doesn’t matter.” 

I tell my mom that the restaurant is described as very casual, so I’m sure jeans will be fine.

“I’ve been there; it is casual.  But Cindy and Maria will be dressed nicely.”

Suddenly she reaches a decision. “Don’t wear jeans.”

I don’t.  My goal this trip is to be as agreeable as possible.

We pick up Cindy and meet Maria at the restaurant.  My mother and her friends are all dressed well enough to be seen at Valerie’s country club.  Everyone else in the restaurant is in cut-offs, bathing suits, and other beachy attire.  The jeans I had planned to wear would have been dressy compared to the garb of the other diners. 

The room overlooks the ocean, where people are still playing. The food is just so-so, but the view more than compensates.  And, we are by far the best-dressed table at the restaurant.

It’s a fun night.