Drinks on the roof

Having Friday night drinks has been something that has occurred throughout my working life and has been an important part of life here in NYC. It has been the time when Sue and Tiina and I would meet up to "debrief" the week as we all lived in separate parts of the city and worked in totally different work locations. It helped cope with a strange city and in part even stranger culture.
Even though Tiina is now back in Australia and Sue and I share an apartment we still meet up for drinks on a Friday evening. Some times just the two of us but more often than not it's with other consultants but still in different parts of the city.
This time we chose our very own roof and I emailed and talked to people saying it was going to be a casual affair- that is bring your own drinks and we'll meet you on the roof of our building. We began gathering around 5pm when Cait came back with me to the apartment from the meeting we'd had at 3pm. Sue had been home for a little while but hadn't replenished the wine rack so while she and Cait talked (about work) I rang the 9th Avenue Vintners and put in the oder for wine. Within 20 minutes the wine was at our door.

I gathered up snacks to share- meaning anything that was easily carried up to the roof and consumed. By this time Sue had decided to do her "Mary Mary Quite Contrary" piece and was watering the pot plants. I guess doing that while you remember is important but we were trying to get up to the roof. Anne arrived ready to start "debriefing" having just left Margie in her 28th floor apartment- Margie was still paper sorting it would appear.
Finally we started to head up, some of us with half glasses of wine others eager to catch up.

There were some poor unfortunate people up there having a quiet drink so we gathered some tables down the opposite end. Chris from 42nd floor was already there but was heading back down to get a jacket as there was a light breeze.
The group gathered over a period of half an hour with tales told:
Chris was there without Rob as he was still in Australia having had trouble getting his visa returned to him. They had stood shoulder to shoulder at the US Consulate and for no apparent reason Chris' visa had been issued immediately and Rob's has taken over a month and he had work he was supposed to be doing this past week.
Dave and Julie were there eager to catch up on everyone's news and travels and books read and plans made. They were impressed that we could use our roof for such social purposes. The Biltmore around the corner on 8th and 47th doesn't allow it. They had missed a year due to Julie's brush with breast cancer- she appeared well and has the all clear thus far. Dave appeared greyer than last time we saw him but they may be just looking for something on my part.
John arrived having been to work in Connecticut and spent an hour locating the grog and sushi that Cait had requested.
Margie eventually made to the roof carrying some dumplings that were quickly devoured by us all. She had said she wasn't going to drink as she was still recovering from the gin and tonic she had made us the night before- that was a story in itself. But she settled in to a small glass of wine and shared her experience of the previous day's workshop.
Anne regaled us with her visits to schools, her work and her brave process of going to her natural colour- far greyer than one wants to be!
There are no "facilities" up on the roof other than pot plants which may be okay for blokes (not hygenic but possible- don't think anyone has in fact it doesn't bear thinking about) so Cait and Anne headed to our apartment and were going to order some takeout to be delivered. Julie and Dave decided to head home as did Chris so the rest of us packed up partially because the light was fading.

We met Cait and Anne in the elevator which was fortunate as they had the only keys. Sue continued down stairs to collect her parcel. While we waited for the mountain of Turkish food to arrive (far too much) Margie checked her apartment for "bubbles" and rang to say she didn't have any so Cait and Anne went out to buy some.
Sue unpacked her parcel- a motorized mini bike- she bought it so she could exercise while working at her computer! As can be imagined there was much hilarity over this machine. She found out about it in the Sky Mall magazine- you know those catalogues in the back seats of planes. Despite the laughing most people had a go and Sue pointed out you can put the mini bike on the table and use it to exercise your arms.
The bubbles arrived back and were consumed, the Turkish food was delivered and delicious with some waiting in the fridge now to be used for lunch.
We commented on the amazing fact that it was one of our late Friday night we're normally zonked and in bed by 9 and it was 10:30 when the last people left.