Wednesday Night Supper

Yesterday afternoon Cindy and I were responsible for preparing supper for the church. I had been to the grocery the evening before, buying dried beans, vegetables, meat for the main course: white bean soup. I had left it to Wednesday afternoon to purchase the dessert and the salad ingredients.

I had an appointment set up for 1:30 but the lady never showed. So I drove over to church and started cooking the soup. After starting the beans and the ham hocks on the stove, I cleaned and chopped the vegetables for the soup and put them in the pots. Cindy had suggested that I buy the chopped onions, and I had gone to the grocery and found frozen onions, celery, peppers and parsley. So with the exception of the carrots and a couple extra onions, I was ready with the seasoning.

I was working in the church kitchen by myself. I had my ipod earbuds in, listening to country music. At 3:30, Cindy arrived and freed me up to go back to the grocery for the various other components of the meal. I returned to the church and continued stirring the soup and adding ingredients.

At around 5:00 some of the young men with learning disabilities showed up and started hovering around the kitchen. They all looked kind of hungry and wistful. It was kind of interesting to hear them hanging around looking at the pots, watching us prepare the meal. I know why chefs don't let the customers into the kitchen to watch the preparation.

The rest of the congregation started showing up around 5:45 and the meal began in earnest at 5:50. The first wave finished their initial supper and the second wave arrived around 6:15. We finally had everyone fed by 7:00. Cindy and I sat down and ate and visited with friends. I got a lot of complements on the soup.

All in all, the time at church preparing the meal was a nice interlude of peace and quiet. It wouldn't be bad to have more like that.

This was Cindy's first trip back to church since before her surgery. She was tired and sore from all the standing and walking around. I followed her home around 7:45 and sat with her until it was time to return to church for choir.

I was the only tenor. That was interesting. I don't read music. I was all by myself. Fortunately, with Sylvia's help it wasn't a complete disaster. Everyone else was suffering from respiratory ailments so we were well-matched.

Palm Sunday is this Sunday. Holy Week follows thereafter. A lot to do in the choir department.