Rave: My spicy friends

I am hugely blessed in the friends department. This has always been true, but I guess I'm more appreciative now that I'm on the verge of moving away from LA and away from regular, bread-breaking, in-person, live interactions.

Friends Lorie and Tom offered to host an engagement party for me and Mike while he was in town over Memorial weekend. We picked up 10 pounds of carne asada and headed over to their place for a Sunday evening BBQ. Other friends brought tasty salads, sides, fabulous desserts, adorable offspring and their fun selves to the party.

It was fun to catch up with everyone and update them on the wedding plans. Plus there's something intimate about coming together to share a meal. It's routine, yet it can be such a delectable experience. Anyone who's been on a bad/blind date knows the value of good company--or barring that, good food.

My friend, Wendy, whom I've known since high school (maybe junior high--it's nebulous) joined in the engagement BBQ fun. She gave me a colorful box, which I opened later when I rediscovered it in my purse. In it: a tiny jar of saffron.

In explanation, she said: "What's funny about saffron is you use it few and far between, but it's always precious and just as great as when you had it last. Kind of like having you for a friend."

Wow. That's one of the best compliments ever. And I feel the same about Wendy and the people who put the party together and the many friends who have added spiced to my life. You're all saffron in my book.