Have a picnic
With friends at one of our favorite picnic spots, Crissy Field in San Francisco, February 2003
“…if you have a place where you can go and have a picnic with your family, it doesn’t matter if it’s a recession or not…” — Jim Fowler
One of the best ways to make an ordinary day into a special occasion is to have a picnic. It can be elaborate or simple fare, and the spot you choose can be close by, or a few hours’ drive. You can find a secluded, quiet corner or settle in a nice shady area near a famous landmark. You can spread a blanket on the ground or use one of many picnic tables provided in parks, welcome centers and other public places. No matter what combination you choose, there is something refreshing and calming about sitting down to rest and eat in a lovely outdoor setting.
Jeff is not quite as fond of picnics as I am, but he is wonderful at packing for them. Sometimes when I plan a picnic with a friend, he will offer to pack for us, and it’s a great surprise to unpack it later and find what is waiting for us. He always errs on the side of too much food and too many choices, which is delightful. Fruits, cheeses, crackers, nuts, those delicious imported cookies dipped in chocolate, sparkling juices and several types of sandwiches (with lettuce and tomato packed separately to prevent soggy bread) are just some of the things I tend to find in any basket he’s packed.
Springtime is a great season for picnics, before it gets too hot and the insects are out in force. I hope you will have at least one festive picnic or cookout in the next few weeks. It’s a good way to have fun that doesn’t involve some sort of electronic screen, and doesn’t cost a lot of money. If you take along a camera and send us a photo, I’ll post it here. Bon appetit!
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Defeat Despair 
Hi Julia,
Picnics seem like a nostalgic thing to me. I remember so well my brothers and I going to the mountains (in NC) numerous times for picnics with Mom and Dad. We were not even teens, yet the memories are many, and still vivid.
Have a nice weekend!
Chris, I do think there is something of the old-fashioned in a picnic. Most of the Baby Boomer generation can remember many picnics in childhood, whether spontaneous or planned. For those of us who lived without air conditioning for part of our lives, going outside to eat was a more natural thing to do. I always intend to get out and enjoy a picnic more often than I end up doing it, but it’s always a treat.
I remember picnicking with y’all at perhaps this same spot. It was so cold, but what fun! Such precious memories.
Yes, we did go to that very same spot. That was “our” place to go. We might as well have had our name on that table. Crissy Field is one of the things I miss most about living so close to San Francisco. I didn’t realize you ever read the blog. It’s nice to see you here! Do you recognized the other Hickman County native in that photo (besides Jeff)?