QMusings

My evenings in Cape Town were very relaxing – we’d gather round the kitchen, pour ourselves glasses of wine and begin making dinner.

I found it very nurturing to be able to help prepare our meals and it made me realize how much I used to enjoy cooking.

We’d sip our wine. I might be chopping onions (Shirley’s eyes tear up horribly), Laverne might be preparing the fire for the braai, Shirley might be stirring something on the stove – it was very homey and loving.

Nebe, the golden retriever, would mope around attempting to look like she’d just trekked across the Kalahari Desert in order to return home and was desperate for well, anything edible: Carrot top, cracker, wonder-of-wonders, piece of chicken.

Nebe worked hard on projecting an image of rib-showing starvation but none of us were falling for it. Jackie, the creaky, elderly terrier mix would watch Nebe’s starvation routine with distain.

One night, as we sipped our wine and pondered second helpings, our conversation turned to relationships and love. I know what you’re thinking: Get women together and all they want to do is discuss relationships!

Laverne said, “Speaking about marriage and love, do you still keep in contact with The Philosopher?”

I replied that while I hadn’t seen him in a while, we still exchanged emails.

The Philosopher is a friend and former co-worker. We began our friendship when we both went to South Africa on assignment, which led to my friendship with Laverne.

Laverne continues, “I really liked what he said to me one time. He was talking about his wife and how she worried about her weight and was always on some diet and losing and then gaining weight.”

She pauses. “I asked him if he liked it when she was fat or when she was thin.”

Shirley and I lean in to hear.

“He said that he likes it when she’s happy.”

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