Did you read the title and immediately think….okay what’s the connection? Well scoot up your chair and I will tell you. It was kind of like a wedding, something new and something old. Now when you are talking about a high school reunion involving me, boy howdy you are definitely talking old. I went to high school back when the earth was flat. Albeit it seems it was just last week I had a pop quiz in history.
The event was held at the Tacoma Yacht Club. A picturesque venue with a big deck over looking Commencement Bay. Inside was the typical set up of round tables, a bar and a laid out serpentining buffet. I gussied up for the event by purchasing a new bra and getting my first ever pedicure… giving myself a ‘lift’ in more ways than one. Circling back to the pedicure… (I’m into those little dots lately, if you wondering if I’m aware I’m sprinkling them like funfetti on the tops of birthday cupcakes ).
Now I’m at an age where I have to think of myself as fine wine, laying on it’s side, aging in a dark temperature controlled cellar in order to feel good about myself. I decided instead of lamenting about things I couldn’t do or more likely wouldn’t even if I could, I was going to focus on doable new experiences. For example a month ago I had my face painted at the local fair. I LOVED having blue and peach flowers trailing down one side of my face and was loathed to wash it off that night.
So when my dental hygienist shrank back in horror that I had never had a pedicure and then threatened to chase me around the office with a drill if I didn’t get one by my next cleaning, I was prompted (by sheer terror of what the hygienist might really do to me the next time) to make an appointment for a pedicure the next day.
What a pampering luxuriant experience. However, what most chimed my bells was glancing down and discovering color glinting at me with a cheery greeting. I chose bright green, because I read that red and pink are passé. I certainly didn’t desire to be labeled passé, like I cared, but this color picked up the green in my floral jacket I was wearing. Albeit I did wonder, if coordinating my toe color with my jacket was as large of a faux pas as matching your living room painting with the throw pillows on the couch.
Continuing on in my saga ….. I just love using these little dots ….. You know what? I’m a version of Johnny Appleseed scattering dots here and there instead of apple seeds. I digress. The reunion was in Tacoma, Wa and I live in Port Townsend, which is 2 hours away. The event ran 3 pm to 8 pm. Right there is the glaring clue this was a reunion for a batch of ‘aged fine wine’ people. I could have easily driven back home. Instead I chose to have yet another new experience.
Despite living in a preserved Victorian town jammed packed with exquisite Bed & Breakfasts, I had never stayed in one. I’m sure you already know what I’m going to say next, especially considering the featured picture of this blog. I booked a room at an eleven thousand square foot Italian manor, The Villa at 705 N 5th ST in Tacoma, WA. Utterly elegant and old …. and warmly inviting.
The hostess, Toni, was beyond gracious in greeting me and showing me what was available from a charming garden room to a large drawing room with wonderful comfortable seating. There was a piano, which I was invited to play IF I knew how. No noodling around attempting to remember how to play chopsticks. We made a stop in the butler’s pantry, where Toni showed me how to operate the Keurig coffee pot or generate hot water for tea and where a basket of snacks was located in case I needed to creep down during the night for provisions.
There are 5 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. My room boosted a 4 poster bed and a mattress fit for the Princess, who had problems sleeping on peas. The only drawback was the bed was so high with the plump firm mattress, I considered ringing my hostess for a step stool.
Part of the checking in process was ascertaining my dietary preferences. I’m pretty sure I garnered extra brownie points, because I was an easy patron, no allergies, not a vegan, no requests for dairy and/or gluten free food. I drank my coffee full bodied and jet powered and I could handle the acidity of orange juice. So my breakfast consisted of Greek yogurt loaded with a variety of jauntily sliced fresh fruit and a super yummy pear and almond bread pudding popped right out of the oven. And of course an endless supply of delicious coffee.
At the breakfast table Toni pressed me and the other guests to share any outstanding breakfast recipes we might have tucked away. None came to my mind at the time, but at home I remember the utterly fabulous coffee cakes I had recently discovered and tried by the food blogger, Oh My Goodness Chocolate Desserts. These coffee cakes will catapult you into Rock Star status immediately.
I have been totally captivated by my small roster of recent new experiences. Old dogs do learn and love new tricks, because inside we are forever young dogs with a penchant for the zest of life.
mjskitchen says
What fun! Love the B&B you stayed at. So very quaint and comfortable. A beautiful location for a reunion. A pedicure – nice! Unfortunately, I am incapable of getting one. I tried once and it was such pure torture to have someone touching my feet that I couldn’t finish. 🙂
Carol says
Goodness what a reaction you had. But I can half way understand it, because they was an area in the center of my sole that just couldn’t handle it. More than a ticklish feeling….
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Fun read. Neat place to stay. And high school? That was so far ago I don’t remember. 🙂
Carol says
I really don’t remember either. Trying to remember teacher’s names…. yikes. I do have an annual packed away, which I should have looked at before I attended the reunion.
Amy (Savory Moments) says
This B&B looks nice and sounds like a lovely time. That green nail color is pretty fun!!