It was a beautiful Saturday in spite of rain predictions. Doug arrived early and started unloading tables, chairs, a fire pit, and a great generous pot big enough to be a witch’s cauldron. He moved our car out of the carport and set up tables and chairs with help from Jared who had arrived on the scene. It was the first time in our lives we just sat back and watched as others set up the tableau for a family feast in our own yard.

A week before, Doug had called talking about doing a low country boil. I thought he was inviting us to his house in Tallahassee. I told him I didn’t think we were quite able to do that. He hastened to say he meant to bring the low country boil to us. “All you have to do is be there and be ready to eat lots of seafood.” We couldn’t turn that down!

We learned from his daughter, our granddaughter, Amanda, that the low country boil was in lieu of Doug’s birthday party. We began to anticipate the occasion and speculate on weather conditions. What a generous thing for Doug to go to all the trouble of bringing the low country boil to us!

Alex, our caregiver, was with us for the day and was excited about the festivities. We three had ringside seats to watch as Doug, Jared, and Charles Douglas piled potatoes and corn in the now steaming pot of water. The girls–Doug’s wife, Summer, her friend Yolanda, Amanda, and Allie—all brought out delicious dips and we nibbled happily.

The young people were in and out of the activity, always ready to eat, but steering clear of being put to work. Caitlin grinned, half enjoying the teasing about her beginning driving skills. Charli got permission to move PawPaw Doug’s car from one place to another, proving she wasn’t far behind Caitlin in driving skills. Kaison surprised me time and again as he sneaked up beside me to speak to me in his new very deep voice.

Pounds and pounds, bag after bag, of seafood were slid into the steaming pot—crawfish, crab claws, clams, scallops, and shrimp. Then Doug began adding seasoning, lots of it. The aroma was tantalizing.

Finally, Doug and Charles Douglas lifted the steaming basket out of the pot and poured contents with great flare down along the newspaper covered table. Bright corn, crab legs, crawfish, everything all mixed up, laid out for feasting. I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving to God when Charles stood, took his hat off, and asked the Lord’s blessing on the food and the people. Amazing that he felt like standing and speaking! Someone brought colorful steaming plates to us and the rest gathered around the table, leaning this way and that to reach their favorite choices. There was the sharp cracking of crab claws and much laughter as hot seasoning began to burn our lips.

Two of our Cairo Animal Hospital veterinarians dropped by to see Charles, adding even more enjoyment to the afternoon. Though neither Alex Greenberg nor Bo Curles would sit down with us and eat, they enjoyed watching us peel shrimp and bite into the best scallops I ever ate.

When we thought the feast was over and all were nursing our burning lips and stinging eyes, Allie appeared back from a run to Dairy Queen with a big box of ice cream sandwiches. Amazingly, the ice cream instantly calmed the fire on our lips and was such a fun ending to a great time.