Savor the Conversation

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Last week was the birthday of one of my best friends. He would have been 26.

In honor of his birthday, a group of our childhood friends went to dinner to celebrate his life.

We ate pho at Pho 75. Simple, yet filling.

It was one of his favorite foods, aside from Chinese (in particular, Yen Cheng) and Mexican (his favorite being Carlos O’Kelley’s). Both are within walking distance, or a short bike ride, from the neighborhood we grew up in.

This is the one time I can completely agree with Roger Ebert–where I don’t go to dinner for the food itself (even though I love it), but for the soul purpose of the company and conversation.

We go to remember a great friend and laugh at the stupid things we did as kids. To discuss the memories we shared while eating the exact same foods.

We remembered eating pho with his family a few days after his funeral. It was a nice way to honor him, by eating the foods he loved.

I know he was with us at that moment. I know he was with us last week as well. We talked about the last time we were together in the same restaurant for the same reason: to honor and remember our friend.

We go to savor the conversation; to savor the memories.

–Aisha Salazar

Tags: Aisha Salazar, food, Gut Check, memories, Northern Virginia Magazine, paying respects, Roger Ebert