Tulsa October 2006 - Good wine, good food, good friends

I am really making some good friends on this project. I think they are going to be like the friends I made at Tenet – people who will be part of life for years to come.



Four of us went to dinner tonight – there is usually 8 or 9 of us, but several people have already left for the weekend (there are about 12 of us from Dallas on this project).



Jamil’s has not changed ONE IOTA!!! Same food, same restaurant (no updates whatsoever which of course adds to its charm) and even a couple of the same waiters. Ours (an old, black gentleman) has been working there 61 YEARS!!!!! (Okla friends – there was an article about him in the World in August – did anyone see it?)



The food was WONDERFUL!!!! Just as I remember it – tabouli, hummus, ribs and an anti-pasta tray as an appetizer. And the kind of salad I love (Dallas folks – it is just like Campisi salad).



Dad, I had the bologna dinner and had plenty left over so I will bring it home tomorrow night.



Barbara, when you come here to visit we will go there. I predict you will like the steaks. Terry is a steak man and he said his was very good.



The two guys drank Sprite, but Lolly and I each had a glass of cabernet which was very good. Now usually when I have just a glass of wine (as opposed to a bottle), I will ask to see the label. Didn’t do that here though because I’m sure I would have been reprimanded by the waitress (who probably has been working there as long as the waiter). It’s a VERY unpretentious place. She brought the guys a small pitcher of Sprite for refills, but for some reason they thought it was another pitcher of water – even though it had BUBBLES and there was already a larger pitcher of water on the table. When they asked for more, she pointed to the pitcher and said “What do you think that is?” Think Soup Nazi. Lol.



Our conversation tonight was totally about religion – we got started on it when I mentioned the pilgrimage I am going on in February. It was such a stimulating and fascinating conversion – just imagine, two men, two women –a Southern Baptist (me, of course), a Methodist, an Episcopalian, and a Muslim. We shared out beliefs, explained each other’s misconceptions, talked about how each of our faiths deal with current social issues. Johnny, I even worked in a discussion about Mormonism. Agha really believed that Mormons still practice polygamy but and I set him straight on that. I don’t think Lolly, Terry and I learned a whole lot new about our respective religions, but we were all enthralled learning from Agah about Islam. Terry had some interesting perspectives on women in the church – there is a lot of controversy about that in the Methodist church right now. He also pointed out an interesting biblical fact that I did not know. Something about Jesus attending a church led by a woman. Bill B – can you enlighten me more on that?





Night, all.