I am so very, very glad I went last night. I haven't had such a splendid evening in a long time.

First I was wearing nicer clothes than I've worn in awhile because, well, now I can and–sad but true–that does make a difference in my attitude when it comes to a lot of social events.

More important we had a nice group of five for dinner and we sat next to the table where another group of friends happened to be celebrating the 70th birthday of one of our local activists, a founding member and early president of NOW. I think I was one of the two people in room who weren't attorneys.

The charming French waiter was good-humored about our requests for translations and I was more than happy with a glass of white wine he chose for me. I had the endive salad, one of my favorites, to start and then one of the evening's specials, mussels. When I saw them all I could say was, "Belgium!" It was a huge bowl full of big, tender mussels steamed in the cream and wine I remember and served with perfect French fries. We must have eaten that same meal a dozen times in Brussels, including the endive, only with big steins of beer.



We got to the Civic Center early and I had a chance to visit with several people I hadn't seen in awhile which was a good thing because Frank Rich's lecture was pretty dry. Not gonna read his book.

I don't feel particularly energetic this morning but I'm going to go over to the park before the weather sours.

I'm beginning to regret not having a Christmas tree.