A happy sad good-bye
It's moving season here in Quantico. Every day moving trucks line the streets of Thomason Park, the neighbourhood where we live in base housing. People are coming, and people are going. Our turn is next Wednesday. Strangers will come in, pack up all of our stuff, and load it into a truck to take it home to Canada. It will be a two day affair.
Friends of ours from Capt Mike's conference group went through the last part of it yesterday, so we all decided to go out for one last dinner together at Ristorante Renato. They'd never been before, and Capt Mike and I have been raving about their Café Diavolo since September. Renato's is famous for their Café Diavolo... a mixture of coffee, blended scotch, french brandy, creme de cacao, coffee liqueur, and golden rum. It's really all in the presentation though: the liquor is flambéd and poured through a flaming, spiral-cut orange.
And so Capt Mike and two of his American counterparts ordered three Café Diavolos (the restaurant will only go to the trouble of making a minimum order of 2), and all of us enjoyed watching the maitre d' prepare the concoction while he told us the story of its development at Romeo and Juliet's in Washington during the 1970s. We were pleasantly surprised when he informed us that tonight's Diavolos were on the house, because he and the restaurant wished to show their appreciation for servicemen helping to make the country what it is. And he said it in such a heartfelt manner, I couldn't help but allow a little lump form in my throat.
If you ever read The Globe and Mail's on-line comments, particularly those attached to stories about Afghanistan, it's easy to become quickly disheartened. The majority of the posters are decidedly against Canada's involvement. They rarely have a kind word to say, other than a perfunctory "My thoughts are with Solider X's family", before embarking on a long, rambling, often ill-informed tirade against the military, politicians, soldiers, and sometimes even soldiers' families. Sometimes, after reading through those comments, it's easy to wonder "why do we even bother?" Luckily, there are times like last night that balance it out. Amid all the negative comments and biases, there are people who recognise that soldiers are people, men and women who chose to serve. They may have little choice over what that service involves, but they are professionals who gave their word to do so without complaint or ego. I think that's something to be admired - something that often gets lost in the dull roar of arguments over magnetic decals, mandates, and withdrawal deadlines.
Comments
That was so kind of the restaurant owner. I got a little lump in my throat reading about it too. You all serve,wives included, in the best way you know how and everyone appreciates what you do. Those holier-than-thou types at the Globe and Mail irk me very much when they mount their high horses.
Glad you had a good time with your friends.
Posted by: Dee at June 26, 2008 02:20 PM