Ok, let's try for the 25th.... Anyone NOT available?

Happy V-day to all, Julie

Jude - know what you mean by looming fiscal year end.... gonna be a tough market for the next year or so, my dear.... My crystal ball (i.e., reliable gossip sources) says things might start to change around September.

GL, Julie

Hurray - a lunch on March 7th works for me - I've marked it as a tentative on my calendar - hope it works out!!! Janet

Would love to see you Janet!!

Julie

Wow! I'm looking forward to it even more now -- it'll be great to see you again Janet!!

Still on for March 7th? Place? Time? I'll be available from 1100 onwards. Looking forward to seeing you again!

AFAIK we still are - we never settled on a place though.....

Red Robin? Kelsey's? Travellers? Somewhere new?

Any preferences ladies (and gentlemen if any are reading this.....)?

Julie

Of the places we've tried, I think I prefer the Travellers (next to Bruno's wings of course) - maybe 'cause Julie's already got the staff and kitchen trained! But, I'm open to trying somewhere different too!

I have a bit of a connumdrum here: a friend of mine passed away in December (known him since I was 16) and the celebration of his life is on Saturday in Washington State. I wasn't planning to go because of a long standing misunderstanding between the widow's sister and myself (sister thought I had broken up her DD's marriage - very long sordid messy tale - I'm innocent but that little point didn't surface as truth until after my friend passed - this issue has been ongoing for about 5 years).

I'm really torn between going (and spending $ I don't really have) and mending the fence once and for all versus not going and missing out on the opportunity to pay my respects and see my old friends that I haven't seen in almost 3 years.

Oh, did I mention that this was next Saturday so I'd miss lunch?

I have to decide pretty quick because I would need to take Friday aft off work to travel..... ARRRRRRRGGGGG

I just wanted the opinions of people I care about. SO says stay home (of course), DD says go, R says go. What say you?

Julie

The issue is not about the widow's sister - it is about your friend.

I say honour the friendship you two had. If you can't afford to go, then do something meaningful here - what did you like to do with him? Maybe do that on Saturday (after lunch with us, of course!) If you can afford to go (even if you are scraping the bottom of the barrel to pay for it), go & celebrate his life with your friends - you can always avoid the other person (because I really think this is not the time/place to resolve your issues with her). The day should be focussed on your friend & his contributions to your life - whether you celebrate it here or there.

Janet

IMO,if you can't afford to go, then it is not a gift to his memory...it is a burden to you.

Stay here, honour him privately and avoid his family altogether.

(Hey, that's just me)

I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend.

Condolences on your loss Julie. I too lean toward sending regrets, along with a few remarks about some of your happier memories of him, and perhaps letting them know what you plan to do to honour his memory. I'm sure he wouldn't want you to spend more than you can afford, when he's not there to enjoy your visit!

But, as Steph says, that's just me.

PS: I always think a lovely way to remember special friends, is to plant a tree in their honour!!

I agree! Or an azelea or a rhodo.

Thanks for the input - still pondering because I would also be able to see another long time friend who is terminal while I was there......

I could afford it - but it would be tight.

Julie

Julie, that changes my feelings on this. If it will give you a chance to visit with, and have good memories of, another friend, then by all means go!! If you don't, you'll regret it for many years. Hugs,