Memories of Reza's by auntietk
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Description
Memories of Reza's
In Chicago
Five friends
Meet at a hotel
Deciding on dinner
None of us cared
What we ate
What mattered
Was the company
But it was our
First time together
And dinner should be special
Persian food
Sounded just right
Reza's
Is only twenty blocks
From the hotel
Not too far to walk
In that flat Chicago landscape
The conversation
As we walked through town
Flowed back and forth
Around and around
Two of us would walk
And talk together
The other three
Somewhere up ahead
Then at a light
We'd stand and wait
All of us together
Crossing the street
The groups would re-form
Everyone getting to spend time
With everyone else
At one intersection
There was a stair
To the subway
I had never seen a subway
And told Chip
We HAD to go down there
To satisfy my curiosity
So down we went
Through a tunnel
And back up again
Crossing under the street
The others followed
Not knowing why
But not really caring
When I explained
I just wanted to see a
Subway
Mark looked as though
He'd been hit by a board
Jaw on the floor
Corey tipped his head
Looked at me
As if I were
A science experiment
With an unusual result
Marilyn, excited,
Had never been in a subway
Either
So they all looked at her, too
They shook their heads
We all smiled at each other
Enjoying one another's reactions
Almost there
Marilyn and Chip
Took photographs
Of neon signs
Irresistible in the dark
I just stared at everything
Tried to keep from
Tripping over curbs
Reza's
Is in an old building
With a long bar
And a beautiful piano
Tall doorways
Open to the street
The atmosphere is a balm
For the senses
And the soul
Dark wood everywhere
Enticing smells
Friendly people
They were going to
Close a pair of doors
So we wouldn't be too cold
But after that long walk
We asked them to leave those doors
Wide open to the warm night air
They asked us
Where we were from
And were enchanted to hear
I was from Seattle
And had come all this way
To eat in their restaurant
(I think they thought
We were all from Seattle)
Conversation floated
Back and forth
No particular pattern
Everyone engaged
Good friends
Around the table
Thick hummus
Parsley-rich tabouli
Talk of architecture
Favorite buildings
And Corey's first job
At the paper
Moist falafal with tahini
Steaming nan
Green beans and tomato
Books and authors
Prague and absent friends
How the magic of the internet
Brought us all together
Green salad with
Cucumber tomato olives
Excitement at being there
All of us together
Looking forward to Saturday
When our group would expand
Chicken
In pomegranate-walnut sauce
With dill rice
Stopped the conversation
In its tracks
That dish will be remembered
For years to come
It became its own
Topic of discussion
Other diners seemed
Oblivious
But the staff watched
Smiled
Nodded
Happy with the energy
Gracing their establishment
After-dinner talk
Nobody in a hurry
Chip ordered Turkish coffee
Even though he said
It would keep him awake
Until November
Being together
Was like a magic trick
Better than imagination
Had ever provided
Walking home through
That warm night
Still so much to say
Music blaring from nightclubs
Young people
Dressed in high fashion
(The others assured me
It was high fashion
And that Chicago
Really isn't full of
Hookers
It's just cool to look that way)
I shook my head
Feeling old
Women much younger than I
In impossible shoes
Caught their heels in gratings
Or uneven pavement
Stumbled
Fell
At a rate of
One every block or two
Chicago is a city of
Awnings and doormen
Of corners under construction
And pedestrians
Crossing against the light
Subways below
Elevated trains above
And flat flat flat
As a pancake
Or a piece of warm nan
Eaten at Reza's
Talking and laughing
Happy and comfortable
Cameras snapping
Planning for tomorrow
Late-night stroll
Back to the hotel
Five friends
In Chicago
..........
This is for Chip, Corey, Marilyn and Mark, in memory of two of the finest dinners I've ever had (we went back again the next night); for Dave, Cheri and Juanita who couldn't be there that night, but were eagerly welcomed on Saturday; and for Bill, who would have loved it, but was home recovering from major surgery.
If you ever get a chance to meet up with good friends from Renderosity ... do it! Make sure you include some good food in your plans. :)
Comments (24)
beachzz
Oh, Tara, this almost brings tears to my eyes. I can feel that night, hear the talk, smell the food; it's that real. What an incredibly magic time that was, all those new sights, but most of all, those people---and how we just WERE. As though we'd known each other forever. I can feel the energy of those streets, remember those young women and their shoes--every bit of this brings it all back. thank you.
wysiwig
I am so jealous. This brings back memories of similar nights long ago. You paint such a wonderful word picture.
lizzibell
very nice...
cfulton
A wonderful vibe and mood you have given - you have spoken more with your words than the picture ever could! Thanks and well done! Green Clive
helanker
WOOOW Tar! That trip to Chicago has fascinated me from the beginning, but this really made me feel what you felt there. It is almost as if I was there with you all myself. Thank you for sharing this with us. And I so agree with cfulton.
bmac62
Not a wasted word in the bunch. Thanks for recreating the atmosphere of this wonderful and friendly adventure. Makes me wonder if this is a, "you can't go home again" event. If you were to go again, do you think the same magic could be generated? This was a happening. Sounds like most of your plans went out the window but the random results of fellowship were all the better for it:)
Meisiekind
I wasn't even there and I want to cry! But then I cried when Bruce took pics of the first snowfall last night and shared it with me! Excellent piece Tara and all the more special because I "know" the characters! Well done indeed! :)
emmecielle
Fascinating memories of a great meeting! :)
trentsteff
Outstanding.
durleybeachbum
MARVELLOUS!
lucindawind
wonderful words lovely shot of memories
barbdennist
This is so touching, and I wasn't even there. I feel as though I joined you that night through your gift of words.
Faemike55
Fantastic words I could almost taste the food. Even at 20 minutes to eight in the morning, I want some food from Reza
orig_buggy
wow....you not only have a gift for photography but one with words as well!
npauling
What a wonderful night out you had and what great company. Makes me want to come to Chicago too. Excellent writing.
hipps13
wonderful work, Tara May Memories sure will have warm hugs and love, Linda Kaye
Chipka
What a night! I remember it as if it happened barely five minutes ago...not even five minutes. The image and the words are utterly perfect, utterly magical. I can still smell the place: those spices, all of that meticulously polished wood, the warmth of steam from the food, and of course that sauce! WOW! Pomegrante/Walnut! What a combination...strangely familiar, almost atavistic. I'm not Persian, but if I were, I'd probably say that the sauce was as good as my grandmother makes, back in Tehran, in that cramped kitchen with those rude, worn and chipped tiles with flowers on them, and an antiquated radio playing her favorite love song...you know the one; it's by that singer with those eyebrows. He was big in the '40s, but they still play his stuff now, mostly because little old ladies like to listen to him while preparing an extravagant dinner, while the daughter of the house makes sure that the pillows on the eating rug are all meticulously arranged. This is incredible photography and writing, and a magical mood that has become a part of the life I live now and will live in the decades to come! WOW. Amazing!
myrrhluz
Wonderful! Your words really bring across the newly met, old friends atmosphere of that night. I love the fact that y'all spontaneously switched walking partners when stopped at lights. I also love that the food, which had been an interesting aside to the main tale, pushed its way to the front when a really excellent dish was served. I felt like the fly on the wall to your terrific experience. Very well done!
elfin14doaks
It sounded incredible ..... next time we plan it better. I am sure it will be better times and we all go.
Merrylee
Good to have friends...and a good time with them...hope you get to do it again
danapommet
Reading this was such a warm experience - as if we were all there together. Great writing and great share. Truly wonderful. Dana
brittsteff
"isn't she good" -dad "YES!"- brittany
CoreyBlack
I'm STILL thinking about Reza's. That was a night to remember! I've known Chip for a decade, but meeting the other Renderosity people felt like I was meeting friends I made long ago and hadn't seen in a while! We should talk Reza's into opening a franchise in Seattle. And I wonder if we go back there, will the manager remember and still think that we're all from out of state?
jocko500
wonderful