Once a year I attend a national food convention with two friends and just thinking about it puts a smile on my face. It’s the one time I let my hair down and just act silly.
If you have even one friend that you can joke and laugh and be relaxed with, consider yourself fortunate, for it is one of life’s little joys. We affectionately refer to each other as ‘sister’ or ‘brother’.
Our sister was always the quiet one at monthly meetings. Who would have thought that she’d turn out to be the wild and zany one?! I’ve always said it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
So our journey starts on the Mexican isle and it’s a lot of fun because you have about 60 exhibitors, some serving little shots of premium quality Tequilas. I don’t drink but my friends will have a shot (or two) and it makes them feel warm & fuzzy.
We meander down the long isles either sampling food or taking promotional items. The food gets better with each new isle. Ahead, they’re making an almond-encrusted salmon salad with mandarin orange slices and dried cranberries. The next isle exhibits home-made meat balls in a special marinara sauce; a couple booths away a beef roast on mini-rolls that is to die for.
And when you think you’re all done, then there’s the chocolate and desserts section. It’s really decadence in disguise. You can gain weight just looking at that stuff . . . and invariably, all the analogies turn to sex.
Sometimes we joke that they have to wheel us out there, or that we look like a couple of beached whales. Sure, they’re just little samples, but it’s 3 hours later and we’re still sampling. It’s like we’re rehearsing for a famine.
We’re tired and I drive everyone back to their cars, then my sister says about our brother, “Look, he’s on his smart phone, and there’s his Smart Car, (looks like a golf cart on steroids) and guess what, he’s a smart ass.” We end with hugs & a kiss.
I can’t wait for the Aug. 2014 show; it’s more fun than an E-ticket at Disneyland.