The plans that went awry

My son and his girlfriend have been visiting since Saturday evening.  He was to visit his father on Sunday and have dinner with us Sunday night.  I invited the nice young Navy man from across the street to have said Sunday night dinner with us because I know he is single and I thought having the kids here, it wouldn't be so awkward for him...you know, eating dinner with two old people you barely know but who invited you to dinner to be nice.

My son found out his dad had actually decided to take the kids to dinner Sunday night and go listen to some music.  Our small community had a Jazz festival in town over the Labor Day weekend.  My son, being a gracious, kind human being couldn't tell his dad no.  I mean, kind of my son't fault for not getting the specific plan with his dad.  So, the kids would not be here for dinner after all.  

I didn't feel comfortable cancelling on the neighbor so...Ribeye steak, potato salad, green beans cooked in a foil pack on the grill...mmmmm.  Dinner turned out pretty good!  That poor neighbor...also a gracious, kind human being...stayed over two hours.  What a sweet guy.  I am not sure I could have done it at that age.  Ok, I could have, but I have always been old.  This kid, a saint for putting himself through it.

I tried to let him know, subtly of course, that he did not need to feel obligated to stay but he just sat on the sofa after dinner and visited for awhile.  He asked about landscaping (he just recently bought the house across the street and it was sorely neglected for two years prior to his purchase of it), changing out windows and his continuing upgrades to the house's interior.  We know a little about his past, his family and his Navy career.  

He thanked us profusely for dinner and the leftovers I sent him home with.  My husband walked him to the end of the driveway, talking more about potential landscaping ideas, and came back in the house.

He said "That poor kid.  He had to have been bored but it was nice of him to stay and visit."  to which I responded "I can see him avoiding eye contact with us in the future."

All in all, a nice visit.  

Later....