On Wednesday July 23 (which was also my dad’s 88th birthday if he was still alive) our senior center took a trip 40 minutes north of the city to Gibsonia and the Narcisi Winery.
We were there once before in October 2023, which I wrote all about here.
Shortly after we arrived, I dug out my phone to start taking pitchers, and thought “you know, I’d just be repeating an older post” so I decided to put the phone away after taking this pic of their orchard.
I’m a little sorry I did that, my friend Mary dressed extra special for the day and wore a nice outfit that included a lovely peasant’s blouse. Why didn’t I get a photo of that at least?
I wound up ordering the same thing I did the last time we were there; a petit filet mignon steak salad with jalapeno ranch dressing.
(But I did have a wine slushi this time ‘round, my first alcoholic drink in probably 10 years. It was refreshingly buzzy.)
Their specialty is pasta dishes, which everyone else at my table got except for me. It’s just that they serve so much hot bread and dipping oil before your meal arrives, I loaded up on that again and was carb’d out.
I was also smoked out—my pal Dennis sat on my right and during our meal, got up to go outside and have a cigarette thirteen times. 13 times! I love the guy, but still…
Dennis on the right, puffing away; we could see him directly outside the window behind our table. We had a lovely view of the winery’s grounds
All in all, it was a really hot day but still a nice time. I felt a little guilty being there without my dear friend Evvie (who is still dealing with her sciatica, now our second outing without her) but my gosh, Mary is so dear & funny. She’s so tall & slender though, I just wanted to shake her. Just kidding, Mary!
Here’s the surprise though; after the Access shuttles returned and took us home (we were gone the whole day) I found a certain piece of mail taped to my front door. It’s been 15 years since I last got one of these, I should’ve known one was coming.
I’m to report for jury duty on Thursday, August 28 (which also happens to be my sister Shawn’s birthday). I almost dread having to take a bus to downtown Pittsburgh, it’s been so long since I was last in the city. I worked down there for almost 30 years, y’know.
Here’s what I’m also nervous about—my long covid, which still isn’t under control. Last week, I was in a good amount of pain Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Burning in the face, tops of my hands, backs of my legs. Sunday morning I woke up and it was completely gone. Things were fine on Monday too, thank you Lord.
And then Tuesday (the day before our winery trip), I awoke with my face and eyes in so much pain I spent most of the day on my bed with the bedroom door shut and my eyes closed. These relapses are pretty debilitating. I felt positively blessed when I got up Wednesday morning and aside from some mild burning around my eyes, knew I could go on our trip to the winery.
I just wonder how things are going to be on August 28 when I’m expected to be at the Allegheny County Courthouse at 8:30 am. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope I don’t get a visit from Post Covid Pyle.
