New Friends among Forever Friends

      A few days later Admiral and I attended a fund raiser for Children Inc. to see Seldom Scene, whose banjo player was a college friend.   People that had blown me off chatted easily with me – because I was Admiral’s date. “I remember the time you landed your helicopter on my dock! It was most exciting.” one snooty gal exclaimed.  When I told Admiral how suddenly I was okay to talk to, he laughed and said “Sounds like ‘em.”
      We flew to Raleigh to celebrate the birthday of one of his first grade friends.  I love private flying – no rude TSA! Classmates howled as they recalled Admiral’s antics. There’s a lot to be said for one who has friends from elementary school.
      The next day we returned to Richmond in time for another of Admiral’s friend’s birthday party who goes to my church. Richmond’s small world makes life easy often.  More stories came out about midnight takeoffs to the Bahamas from Florida, how he helped people sleep because he fixed their boat air conditioning on sultry hot nights, and rendezvous in exotic places on his magnificent yachts.   Always the gentleman, he stood by quietly and smiling as people told stories on him with delight.
      The  Smart Woman’s tradition of going to the Urbanna  Oyster  Festival  with friends was coming up.  “Do I invite Admiral?  What the hey, let’s do it." I thought.   Not only did he gladly accept my invitation, he used connections to arrange a splendid parking place inside the tiny town where parking miles from the action is the procedure.  One more time he shows he’s my kind of guy. 
      Wandering through shops, looking at the sites and eating oysters is the activity.  As we chatted and strolled through an art show, he asked me what I was looking for on match. “My last first date.” I replied.  Grinning widely, he said “Me, too. “