Pre-Christmas 2021 Feast With Alex

Last Thursday, December 23rd, we were dropping Alex off back at his home after his league bowling. This was the night of the clients' and staff's Christmas celebration and we were invited to stay. What a Filipino feast it was! Roast stuff pig, thinly sliced beef on skewers, two tender meat stews - whose Filipino names I do not remember - to be served on noodles or rice, spaghetti, Filipino lumpia (an extreme favorite of Alex's), mango cake, chocolate muffins, salad, grapes, jello salad, and warm rolls, fresh from the oven.

Alex seemed oblivious to all the food preparations in progress, intently working on his pirate ship puzzle and occasionally looking up to gaze at the Christmas tree on the other side of the room.

Once dinner was called Alex was the first one at the table, waiting to be served.  The other clients joined him shortly. Alex's plate was filled to the brim and he devoured all of it in a blink.

Frank and I  had just been discussing what leftovers I was going to heat up for our dinner once we got home, so this meal was a serendipitous surprise. We ate our fill. St. Denis Home does go above and beyond to treat their clients well. On our drive back to Livermore, Frank and I meandered through Alex's San Ramon neighborhood to enjoy the Christmas lights. 

We would be back for Alex the next afternoon and pick him up to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us at our home. Last year, Christmas 2020 Alex had sat in the garage at St. Denis and opened the presents we'd brought him while Frank and I sat distanced outside in the rain under golf umbrellas.

Because of pandemic restrictions, Alex had not been to our home in nearly two years. All of us are vaccinated and boosted now. Although we will still be careful, this Christmas 2021 Alex will be able to sleep two nights back in his old bed, open his gifts in our living room, and go for car rides to see the Christmas lights. We were so looking forward to it.