Lunch # 2 at the ALVA Diner

Tuesday morning and its nearly 70 at 9 am. Degrees, not my age.  Today we are joining the seniors and Pastor Ralph  at the Alva Diner for their weekly lunch at 11:30.  Mona and I are already getting into the Florida Retiree Mode.  Not sure if I like it entirely, though it is comfortable.  Maybe too comfortable?

Ralph has asked Mitch, whose wife is in real estate, to find us a nice home in Alva while the ‘mode’ is sticking.  Then he’ll find something for me to do around the church.  See?  Maybe too comfortable?  J

We drove over the drawbridge to the Alva early; in fact we were the first ones to arrive. But soon the crowd was gathering and we went in to our separate tables. The men along the west wall and the women around a table in the middle. 

Yes, its old time Methodism for this meal (or Mennonite, as one woman shared). But this does make it easier for singles to join the party.

Speaking of party, the women had cupcakes and candles for desert. They celebrated a birthday today.  The men went outside after lunch and had seconds on their sweet tea and Cokes around a fine, long,  handmade wooden picnic table.

When the ladies finished gorging themselves on cupcake and candles (?) they all came out and Mona and I headed 7 miles west to the Laundromat across from the Winn-Dixie food store. Two hours later our laundry was done and a spot of shopping as well.

This evening we read and rest edin the shade of our palms and live oaks in this spacious park the church has loaned us to park in. Its 87 degrees now, at 4:15 pm.  Slow down time in Florida; Happy Hour to some.

Tomorrow, if the rain doesn’t meet the weatherman’s 80% prediction of rain I’ll be Joseph to Sierra’s Mary again for the drive through Nativity. Either way we might make it over in the morning to help with the bi monthly food bank at Bethesda House, and Pastor Ralph has already made sure we’d be coming to Christmas Eve Service at 7 pm. Hmmm. Might he have a plan for moi?

Meanwhile, just to keep things in perspective, we’ve identified a church in the Homestead, Florida, area we might contact as our next camp site.  Then, at some point, on to the Keys.

-Ken