The text from my friend Lorraine said simply: Fancy a family picnic this weekend? My hands began to sweat; my heart beat hard. I wanted to yell, "No! Why would you suggest that? I thought we were friends!"
I hated picnics. My hatred of them began as a child. I always got car-sick and it was hot all the way. Air conditioning in vehicles was pretty much unheard of in 1980s Birmingham, and my mother insisted on having all the windows closed because of the unpleasant smell of gas. We would arrive at some faraway destination, usually a car park with a field attached next to a plant, and unpack tasteless sandwiches, nearly cold sausage rolls and disgusting salads. There were never any toilets, so we had to "go" behind a bush; the memory of being discovered by a random dog-walker still embarrasses me from time to time. My mother sat in a relaxed way on a rug (小毯子) while we girls were playing nearby or maybe lying next to her. But for me this was a time when I suffered a lot. It was frightening to be attacked by ants or spot a dead rabbit in the grass.
As an adult I'd avoided all picnics, but this time I couldn't. I just said yes, without letting Lorraine sense my true feeling about them. She is my best friend and sometimes you must make sacrifices for people you like a lot. "I'll bring the food, and you bring the drink," she said.
My ridiculously enthusiastic family and I arrived at the picnic site. My expectations were low. Lorraine and her husband Dave unloaded folding tables, chairs, a table cloth and …a cool box of delicious food mostly purchased from a local deli (熟食店), which does all manner of pre-prepared salads and cold cuts. There was fresh bread, olives, even candles to keep away insects, music, and wine. It was completely delightful. There may have been children playing around too, even if one of them did find a dead bird (told you!).
I am now a picnic enthusiast and we're planning another. I'm even reading up on picnic recipes for it!
