2009-06-08 - 1:01 a.m.
#Let me paint you a picture.:
I'd remember better if there was a song in this memory but we had turned off the music so Chris could give his speech. I was sitting at the head of the dining room table with a spread of desserts lit by candle light. Sitting beside me was Gill Treen who, I now realize, I had been flirting with but who can blame me? She is the funniest. Gentle flirting is like a little kiss from a child: reminiscently innocent.
Sitting around the table were the rest of all my friends. All of the excellent ones that I now know. They are the people whom I can spend time with and share happiness like a giant dish of wine: taken in big gulps, never ending.
Everything beyond the candle light ceased to exist and I felt like I was in a particular place consisting of only flickering warm light and friendly faces.
While Chris told his speech, starting with a history of himself as a young boy, I razzed him about his description of himself and the group picked up with another joke and then another, all of which were taken with a gentle smile and equally funny remarks by Chris himself. This kind of group bantering continued throughout the speech, elongating it by minutes, all of which were as pleasant and memorable as the speech itself. The whole experience was reminiscent of family.
Afterward, we clapped and smiled and then organized ourselves for a group photo. The photo was itself a long process as the candle light made us need to stand perfectly still for the proper exposure. Of course, Nicole had to giggle which started Stephanie going and then once that was settled Gill insisted on pursuing a joke for the entirety of the 15 second exposure which was then followed by everyone yelling at her. The yelling was the best part by far. I didn't realize how fun it is to yell without fear of misunderstanding. "Fuck you!" was just as easily understood as "I love this!"
Last night was so good. I could do it again.