Life is like a box of chocolates

Just this past Sunday, I went to a friend's 40th birthday celebration at a cafe that makes artisan chocolates. His lovely wife had arranged a chocolate making lesson for him and his friends plus families. Yes, I was the only one there sans children, but life goes on, right? And I'm saying yes to almost everything these days.

I can't tell you how many times I refused their invitations over the years just I couldn't just stand the thought of hanging out with people with small kids for hours on end. I just wanted to hang out with the dog. And my bottle of chardonnay was conspicuous amongst the sippy cups. During the dark times, it was sheer agony and the endless queries about our state of fertility. I'd watch hubby hold other people's babies and I'd get "helpful" hints about diet. What did you do last week? Oh, I sat and wept intermittently throughout the day after the BFN phonecall and you? I love those guys just for hanging in there with us. It's nice to see their little ones growing. The oldest one knows me and I picked her up to show her the beautiful chocolates in the display case.

Who can say no to chocolate, seriously? So off I go and while I listen patiently to the chocolatier educate us about the growing of cocoa, blah, blah, blah and I wonder if it's appropriate if I stick my fingers in the steel tray of melted milk chocolate. We made white chocolate/coconut truffles, milk chocolate truffles coated in roasted crushed hazelnuts, dark chocolate truffles and chocolate baskets (balloons dipped in chocolate, chilled and then popped) and I fell in lust with the scent of white chocolate infused with real ginger.

We retired to the front of the cafe for quiches,scones, fresh fruit, real hot chocolate and strong coffee. A few more people came by with tots and young kids in tow. I had a lovely conversation with a little alpha girl about what style she was going to wear her hair in the summer. I realized that I had met almost all of those people before they had kids or when they were just pregnant. I could look at their faces and see their parents eyes or facial expressions. Some were around 6 years of age, some only kindergarten. Everyone belonged to someone.

No annoying questions asked cause I'm sure they knew my story already. The outcome was obvious. The future is still unseen. I had a really nice time. Then one daddy handed a little one to his wife for breastfeeding and I took that as my cue to leave. She was the one that told me that after her naturopath told her to stop eating acidic foods, like tomato, she got pregnant. Looks like it worked again.

When I got home, it was so quiet. No hubby, no dog, just real quiet. I just let it be.