I'm thankful for the cool, fresh air outside as Kat wheels me swiftly down the hill towards the Thirsty Sheriff. Something about the coziness of Belle Epoch was making me feel fuzzy, my thoughts foggy and dull.
Normally I'm a bit more articulate than this...Kat's body left me speechless!
As we approach the brewpub, Kat slows a bit, then stops in front of her car. She picks up all the bags from shopping and puts them in her car, filling the backseat. Asking me if I'm ready, I nod, glad to finally be here, looking forward to a chance to relax and enjoy some good brew and great food.
We enter the place, which is pretty slow for a weekend night, only half-full - plenty of room at the bar and various tables and booths around the pub. Still, there's no shortage of the stares that Kat gets, her new heels thonking on the wooden floor boards. Kat wheels me to a rounded corner booth and helps me into my seat. After putting the wheelchair in an out of the way place, she scootches in good and close as our waitress approaches.
"Hey there you two, welcome to the Thirsty Sheriff. Can I get you started with something to drink?" she asks, looking at the two of us curiously.
Kat orders an Oktoberfest-style Märzen, while I opt for a sample flight.
"I probably shouldn't," I confess to Kat, looking sheepish at the beer list. "I tend to feel a little tipsier from a flight than a pint. But I like to try before I get a full glass."
The waitress returns with Kat's beer and my flight, setting both before us. We order our food, both getting the same pub burger and fries, which Kat absolutely loves.
Yeah Kat, we ordered the same thing, it happens...
And then Kat raises her glass in toast to me:
I feel silly holding my tiny glass up to Kat's liter-sized mug, but I do so.
"To a great day spent with you," I say, smiling even as my ankle throbs painfully under the table.