There use to be a Spires on Orangethorpe & Brookhurst in Fullerton. One Friday night after a football game, I went to this Spires with friend & girl friend, Vicki & Cindi. I ordered a roast beef dinner–not sure what they had, but I’ll get to why I remember my meal more than theirs.

So if anyone knows Vicki & Cindi, they talk non-stop, not to me much that night, but with each other (which was normal when they were together)!! I don’t say this to disparage women, but they can talk about every inch of their day, whereas men give a grunt, which can mean “yes” at times or “no” at others, & that’s pretty much it. But Vicki & Cindi where at a whole other level back in high school & I’m sure that hasn’t changed! How cool is that to have such a good friend in your life!!

But on this particular night back in 1973, they took their binge talking & laughing (they did that a lot too) to new heights from the car, through the parking lot & into our booth by the window!! I didn’t mind & was use to it–besides I was hungry & dug into my roast beef!!

At one point during the meal, this is the part where I distinctly remember eating roast beef & not what or if they ate at all, when I became gravely aware that a piece of mash potatoes & beef were lodged in my throat!! I look at the girls & see that they’re totally oblivious to me. “Good,” my pride exclaimed, “You don’t want to freak them out, cause a scene, embarrass yourself!!” I didn’t want to die either, & then I saw my glass of milk. “Drink some milk to wash the food down!” I take a big swig & before I even put the glass back down I realized, “That was a bad idea!”

Now I had mashed potatoes (no salt but lots of butter & pepper), a forgot-to-chew-32-times-slab-of-beef imbedded in my throat AND a mouth full of ice cold milk–NONE of it inching its way down!!

I take a look at Vicki & Cindi, still in their own fun-loving-freshman world, perfect! So I decide to casually lean over my half-eaten-heart-attack-on-a-plate, cover with my napkin & slowly let the milk trickle from my mouth. A quick glance at the girls, still laughing & talking, EXCELLENT! I stay hunkered over my plate & with my non-napkin hand, slip a finger ever so uncomfortably (but quietly) to the back of my mouth and poof, it was out! I left the open napkin on my plate, pushed it aside and downed my milk. “You two ready to go?” And just like that, off we went!!

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs‬ ‭17:17‬

Until next time, peace and joy to you,

Steve