Had a terrific time visiting Mary Ellen. Tara picked me up at 10:20, then Rosalie at her son's Carvel Ice Cream store in Tuckerton. We got to ME's a bit after noon.
Mary Ellen has a large home on the bay in Barnegat Light, but is recuperating after a knee replacement at her condo in Philadelphia. The neighborhood is vibrant and exciting, surrounded as it is by good restaurants, theatres, and historic buildings.
The condo is so comfortable and attractive, with two bedrooms, two baths, a nice-sized kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the Philadelphia Academy of Music. It's freshly painted and beautifully modernized, with stone and marble in the kitchen and baths. Mary Ellen has decorated it with Asian pieces, including some of her beautiful kimono collection. She has a breath-taking gold one displayed in the dining area and others in the bedrooms.
ME's good friend, Carol from Connecticut, is staying with her until she's able to be on her own, and the five of us gabbed and gabbed and gabbed, of course. Tara and Carol went out to get lunch after we all decided on Italian. They came back with a great spread of arugula/feta/artichokes, chicken breasts with a lemon/caper sauce, and ziti with additions. We polished off the white wine from Renault that I had taken along, then cracked open another bottle. T. and C. then went out to a fabulous French pastry shop and brought back an assortment delectable pastries--oh, joy!
Another friend of Mary Ellen's makes jewelry and we examined, tried on, and admired a large array of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings she had made. These are not ordinary trinkets, but beautiful one-of-a-kind works of art, made of crystal and stones from various parts of the world. What fun!
Got home a bit after 8:30 after a wonderfully fulfilling day, thanks to interesting companions, good food, and great talk. What more could anyone ask?