S2E13: A day with Kim and Kyle.

Day 13: Sept  22, 2023
St. Louis, MO

—

My sister-in-law and new brother-in-law arrive at our Airbnb to spend a full day with us. Leading hectic lives, they both took time off from their respective jobs to chat, drink coffee, eat food, and mostly relax.

Kim and Kyle are both coffee lovers, with Kyle becoming a recent convert. Naturally, our new find Quarrelsome is on the agenda. The space is packed with students and young professionals, so we’re relegated to the back patio. Normally, we’d relish an outdoor area to enjoy our drinks in, but the sun beats down on us, so we don’t we linger too long.

I notice more…

We spend the afternoon getting into both casual and deep conversations about a variety of topics — Jen and her sister with the easy rapport of siblings, then me and Kyle conversing like he’s been a member of the family for a while.

Since they recently got married, we treat them to dinner. I pick out Retreat Gastropub in the Central West End, which incidentally is just a few doors down from Quarrelsome. This area is home to many cute shops, restaurants, and art galleries.

After dinner, we discover one location (of many) of Clementine’s nearby. If your sweet tooth is beckoning, this is a must-stop. They offer some of the best rotating flavors of vegan ice cream, especially from a shop that’s primarily non-vegan. While I’m not solely plant-based, I do have a dairy allergy that generates an immediate sinus response, so I’ve eschewed milk for many years now.

Jen and I share a “petite,” which is two generous scoops: strawberry crunch and tahini chocolate chip. I rarely eat ice cream and designate it as a true indulgence, so it’s very satisfying, especially since the Midwest is still hot and humid. As usual, Clementine’s flavors are on point, and the aesthetic of the space is just chef’s kiss.

Our last stop is Left Bank Books. Jen and I love independent bookstores, so we try to support them whenever possible. I particularly love reading staff recommendations. It feels more personal than today’s user reviews and is nostalgic from a time when I used to visit record stores and read staff picks or ask the staff what they were listening to. If it’s not 4.5 stars on Amazon, does it even exist?!

Jen and Kim both buy books, and we saunter back to the car in the end-of-summer warmth. We spend the rest of the evening just chatting back at the Airbnb, and Kim and Kyle eventually (reluctantly?) head home to their kids.

As I’ve gotten older, I realize how important it is to carve out individual time with people in small group settings, and I prefer it over large group settings. Tonight gave us quality time with Kim as usual, and it was a treat to get to know Kyle even more.

Welcome to the family, bro.