MEALS ON WHEELS 12 ½

I spent a delightful hour this past Wednesday in the front seat of my car with a Beautiful Woman.  My wife knows all about it.  Most likely her husband knows about it at this point, too.
 
It all began innocently enough at the last Paramus Rotary Club Foundation Board meeting.  Scott Lippert, Esq., chairman of our Club’s Foundation, had called a semi annual meeting in his office to discuss 2010 scholarship allocations, investment strategies and the like.  
 
Our Club has a considerable Foundation corpus spread out in 11 or so funds and endowments that exceed $400,000 in value.  The Board meet to determine what will be given out each year for scholarships based on investment performance, without compromising the principal.  Scott’s office is in an 80’s large glass and brick modern in downtown Hackensack, nearly across from the Bergen County Court complex.  He is always a gracious host and provides the Board with an excellent continental breakfast in the boardroom.  I recommend the fruit, of course…

That morning, a snowy prelude to the recent whiteouts made the roads slushy but wetly passable. Although I walked in the room spot on the meeting hour of 9AM, I was surprised to see almost everyone there and the meeting well under way.  I made note that several members had not yet arrived - the Beautiful Woman among them.   I sunk into a law office chair designed to embrace it’s victim as the wolf’s soft warm lips so briefly wrap the baby lamb’s pulsing neck before canines distend with Darwinian effect. I was made more comfortable with a plate of fresh melon and pineapple.  
 
Then She walked in the room.
 
She sat at the head of the table near my end and apologized to everyone for being detained by the weather.  She was nervous about driving in it and expressed doubts about being able to drive later that morning, what with the declining weather and would someone be able to take her?  There were some murmurings in the room about unavailability but I said I would be glad to help her at, say, 11:15?   Her beatific smile bathed and swaddled me like a new mother.
 
The business of the meeting was conducted with Scott’s usual skill ( he does not suffer wasted time ) and we dispersed at 10.  Back in my office, I watched the molecular transit of the clock face but at last as when Time passes too slowly even for itself, the hour was upon me to go and meet her.  As I pulled into the back lot of the building I saw The Beautiful Woman standing outside her parked car, waiting for me.
 
Meals On Wheels offers a new experience every time you do it.  Some experiences are contained solely within the mind and are the stuff of fantasy and conjecture.  Some are as real as we can possibly know what that is.  This time was as real and unique for me - I was in the company of one of the most beautiful and gracious people I will ever have the good luck to know.  The hour I spent driving Maryann Siniscalchi around and helping her with her route that day was a delight to me and was defective in nothing but it’s minimal duration and the sadness of quitting her company.   
 
She is new to Meals On Wheels and was nervous about the route and the weather.  We drove it and walked through it and showed her the tips and tricks.  Of course she thanked me profusely for my time and help, but it was I who got the best of that day.  I saw again, a quiet strength, dignity and spirituality that imbues her presence with a grace and humanity rarely found.  She is The Beautiful Woman.
 
Thanks for you, Maryann.