Someone's in the Kitchen with Nina

The tide goes out this afternoon and we walk along the beach, passing in front of coral outcroppings once blocked by the invading ocean, as we head back to Nina's place. We stop at a beachside hotel and taste their homemade Italian ice cream. Delectable. Nina visits her favorite fish supplier and buys prawns for dinner. Early evening, Nina and I get in the kitchen to prepare dinner. Jeff and Jan will be joining us and Nina's menu includes stir-fired vegetables with prawns and rice. I shell and devein the prawns while she cooks the rice and prepares the vegetables. We talk and discover we're the same age. Petula Clark sings from the living room and we seem to know every song. When we're not talking, we're singing. Nina borrows five wine glasses from a neighbor. When Jeff and Jan show up, they bring along two bottles of chilled white wine. I set the table, we pour the wine and enjoy Nina's very delicious meal. Conversation turns to climbing Mt. Everest, so I tell them about the book "Left for Dead." Jeff wants to climb Everest and we all seem to be trying to talk him out of it. He's climbed Kilimanjaro four times and could probably take Everest. But is it worth it? Understandably, now that Jan has found Jeff, she surely doesn't want to lose him, especially to a mountain. We all seem to wind down at the same time. Jan yawns. She and Jeff leave. It'll probably be a while before we get to see them again. At least I hope to see them again one day. Tomorrow Ed and I take the bus to Lamu. As we leave the next morning, Nina gives me a hug and I reciprocate. "We've cooked together," she tells me, "we can hug."