Puff Pastry and

My calendar is never crowded, mostly by choice. I have always tended to be reclusive, and age hasn’t changed that perspective.

However, there are so many interesting things going on in my new environment sometimes I find myself leaving my comfort zone of books, and computer and participating.

Last week I was enticed by a cooking demonstration on making croissants, one of my favorite delicacies.

As I listened to Nate, our incredible chef, demonstrate the art of preparing puff pastry, I remembered an unexpected invitation for a similar treat.

We had just moved into the little White House on the corner, outside the stone gates embracing the entrance to a gated community, Viceroy in North Massapequa. It often reminded me of when I lived on 58th Street, and ‘THE’ coveted address was 57th Street.

When we bought our home, neither my husband nor I were aware that there was such an invisible line of demarcation between the short distance in the road we faced and the white walls embracing the sprawling development of 200 plus homes.

For some unknown reason shortly after moving in, I was welcomed into the charmed circle of young Mothers living in the enclave and invited to a luncheon. The lovely event was at Penny’s home, an interesting older woman who unexpectedly turned up on my doorstep one autumn morning, and said, “Come for lunch on Tuesday. Maybe you could find a baby sitter, however.” Then she was gone, zooming out of my driveway in a red convertible.

I did find a sitter for the two little ones, and I was thrilled with the invitation. We had recently relocated from Virginia, and Long Island was an unknown territory for me.

While watching Nate as he continued to describe how to grate frozen butter, my mind wandered slowly back to that long ago luncheon in Nassau County. I suddenly remembered that Penny, our hostess, had served a homemade apple strudel.

When Nate began to circle the room and serve his delectable chocolate croissants, I could almost visualize the apple strudel Penny served that cloudy October morning. She, like Nate, had said, “This is really quite simple if you use frozen pastry.”

Today savoring the delightful delicacy, I mused, “Well, perhaps it was for Penny and again today for Nate, but it never became a simple accomplishment for me.”

However, the beauty of the pastry that day, and again today, was because it functioned as an instrument of introduction opening the door not only to food, but acquaintances and long lasting friendships.

While I still remember the pastry, I also carry in my heart the friendships that began that day along with a slice of strudel. My loving thoughts go back to the friends I met that afternoon Joan, Marian, Dorothy and of course, our hostess, Penny.

Friendship was something I desperately needed then in the insecure days of youth, and again today with the challenges of age in another new environment.

Today as I look around another room, I also see the possibility of new acquaintances waiting to be enjoyed along with a cup of tea and a croissant.

Then I remember Penny and her unexpected hospitality on a long ago day in Massapequa, and I realize that puff pastry once enhanced not only my taste buds, but my life.

And I become gratefully aware of the possibility that it might once again today.