Suzie put it succinctly as only she could: “I know that Kira brings you tranquility” she texted as I alerted her to the fact that I would probably be spending a winter weekend in Boston. As with most things, Suzie was correct. A January weekend with Kira would be the best manner of seeing our way through a winter storm, and one was scheduled to hit right in the middle of the weekend – Saturday afternoon and night. And there is no better place to pass a winter storm than the Boston condo.
Preparations began the night before I left, as I put together a version of shakshuka that could travel and then be assembled with the final flourish of eggs and fresh herbs added at the last minute in Boston. That Friday was due to be exceedingly chilly, with temperatures in the almost-single digits and with a ferociously-biting wind. Kira would be arriving in the midst of an icy night and I wanted to welcome her with warmth and sustenance.
Most of my Boston visits with Kira involve a free stretch of time while she finishes her work week, and in this window of freedom I will usually do some shopping and roaming before Kira arrives. I started out the same way, until the cold and the winds drove me indoors and back to the condo early. It was cozier that way anyway, and I was grateful for the bit of quiet. As dusk arrived, I started dinner, lit a few candles, sipped at a cup of tea, and settled in to the moment.
When Kira arrived, a plate of charcuterie sat assembled at the dining table and we instantly dove in to the food and the catching up. She brought a bouquet of flowers which completed the minimalist tablescape in lovely fashion. We loosely plotted out the next day, barely finished dinner (lesson: a big-enough charcuterie platter will suffice for a future Friday night dinner), and watched a bit of ‘Now, Voyager’ before retiring. Time with a good friend was indeed tranquility, and something we needed when a storm was brewing.
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