"Sensuous" Can Have Many Meanings

I had one of the most sensuous experiences of my life yesterday. And I shared it with two beautiful women.

My dear friend Missie and I planned a barbecue for Saturday. She was picking up swordfish steaks and I was making a spinach salad and bringing margarita makings. Along the way, another friend, Lisa, joined the festivites, contributing a broccoli caserole. I was in charge of the grill (man + fire = good) and we grilled skewers of squash, onions and zucchini. The afternoon meal was fantastic! The day was a bit too hot to sit outside, so we ate indoors.

The salad I prepared was a study in contrasts: baby leaf spinach, mardarin oranges, sweet peas, crumbled bacon, sliced hearts of palm (thanks to José Luis for turning me on to those) and shredded extra-sharp cheddar with a sweet and sour dressing. The idea is to stimulate all five taste areas of the tongue while keeping the flavors in balance.

As day turned into evening, it seemed like we just could not pull ourselves away from one another. We moved outside and eventually got hungry again. Missie, God love her, prepared a massive snacking tray with fruits and veggies and crackers and cheeses. We started talking about combining flavors and savoring all that life has to offer. As darkness approached, we discovered many joys of combining sweet and savory, tangy and tart. (Our favorite: fresh strawberries stuffed with bleu cheese and followed with a dry, red wine.)

We finally, regretfully parted ways sometime after midnight. It was one of the most relaxing, indulgent, exciting, sensuous days of my life.

Here's to sharing life's treasures with good friends!


Speaking of good friends, José Luis has been gone for more than a week now. He loved Turbo. Saying goodbye to him was not easy. The Monday after he went back to Spain, I called him and we chatted for a few moments. His mom got on the phone and thanked me for finding the Go-Bot and for being so kind to her son. I was very touched. José and I exchanged e-mails throughout his holiday week in Spain. Yesterday, while I was having the time of my life, he flew back to England and his self-imposed exile from all he loves. My thoughts are with him. I hope, when I read back to this posting a year from now, that we will still be in touch.