Lenten Fish Fry

TripPix.

 

Every year we see a notice in St. John Vianney's Sunday bulletin for a fish fry on the Fridays of Lent. I've always been somewhat interested in attending, but not until today did Bob show any enthusiasm at all.

After an afternoon in the pool, we showered and enjoyed our view of the gulf for an hour or so on the front balcony. As we drove to church, I felt somewhat apprehensive, knowing that St. John's would be written off if the fish meal (baked or fried fish, French fries, cole slaw, hush puppies, beverage, dessert) turned out less than "good".

My concern was unwarranted. The parish hall was crowded but the event was well organized and we were soon seated at a long cafeteria table, beside an older couple originally from Maine. The husband, an Air Force veteran, had spent time at Fort Snelling (Minnesota) in the early 1960s.

Our dinner companion had a comment on every subject, including politics, football (he'd once met former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton in St. Pete Beach), Rotary International, the Tampa Bay Symphony. He founded an electronics company forty years ago and firmly believes that "if you can stay awake for eight hours, you can make money in St. Pete".

We enjoyed our meal very much. Bob had apple cobbler with ice cream for dessert (delicious) and I saved my butterscotch brownie for later consumption. We were particularly impressed with the happy and competent volunteers, who provided an excellent meal, served promptly and with impressive efficiency. All for $20, including the $2 donation Bob left on the way out.