A Caregiver’s Workshop over Apple Martini
After spending all morning at the AARP conference, friend Elaine and I went to the Pineapple Room at Macy’s for lunch. Fortunately, as it turned out, there were no tables but the bar was open.
I love sitting on bar stools; it makes me feel wicked. I ordered an Apple Martini ( the best in town) and a salad. Soon a man sat next to me. He noticed the leis around my shoulder and asked if I were celebrating a birthday. “No,” I explained, “I just gave a lecture at the AARP conference.”
And now the most unique “pick up” began, not by one but by two. Since I’m no longer 25, this is the best I can expect in this game of “pick up.”
Our conversation led to his story of his wife struggling with caring for her father with dementia.
I sensed all the loopholes so began a mini-workshop. A woman next to him leaned over and said, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I’m caring for my sister who has Alzheimer’s.”
So over my Apple Martini, I gave a condensed version of what I had covered earliar at the conference. They took my business card and hope to read my books on caregiving. The stranger said, as we left, “This was meant to happen. Thank you. ” Yeah, but he didn’t pay for my drink.
Elaine said, “This is way better than sitting at a table in a restaurant. This would never have happened outside of a bar.” Elaine paid for my martini lunch.
What a wonderful bar encounter — I agee with the woman — it was just meant to happen.
Thanks, Bess. ON second thought, perhaps had I said it was my birthday, he would have picked up my tab. That was good martini. Anyone who goes to Hawaii, dine at Alan Wong’s restaurant for the experience. This restaurant at Macy’s is a branch of the main restaurant..go to the main one.