Charlie the Fantastic!

Tonight I went to my friend Charlie's "Gratitude Party." This has been going on for 16 years and this was my first time.

What fun! Charlie lives in one of the most "New York" apartments I have seen. He designed it and it seems a wonderful throwback to the sophisticated "Man Men" days of Manhattan. I showed up in jeans and a Brooks Brothers collared shirt, but everyone else seemed way more sophisticatedly dressed then I. I loved it. Again, it seemed so throwback New York in the best of ways.
What NICE people. I had a GREAT time. We ate loads of lovely food and mingled and then Charlie had us gather in one room and like Beat poets about to rif, we went around the room and shared what we were grateful for. It was so moving and I teared immediately. Everyone was so open and lovely. It was not "koom-bye-yah" sappy, but just note perfect. The whole night was. And to top it off in a "Waltons Homecoming" kind of way, my friend Bob was there from China! A total surprise. How GREAT it was to see him. Sadly he was back in New York because his mom died. What an important time to have gratitude, I know.

(Bob, Charlie, Pat - The beautiful grandfather clock is older than all of us! Grateful for that!)

For Charlie and Bob and all the people I met and the food and New York City, I remain grateful.

Passegiata & Fireflies

Bob at the 79th Street Boat Basin

The thrill I find in my new surroundings just does not stop. Just DOES NOT I tell you.

I practiced spontaneity tonight by calling my friend Bob who lives close by and asked him if he wanted to meet for a walk and go to Riverside Park. He said yes and we did.

(I always thinking walking after dinner is so civilized and I learned that in Italy where they call it a passegiata and they really, really do it. Everywhere. )

It was good to catch up. He has a new book editor who is championing him and I have been getting some good meetings so things are looking up for us both.

We meandered down to the Hudson River on a path through trees and bushes and there were twinkling lights everywhere. Almost as if Christmas fairy lights had been strung on leaves.

It was a FOREST of fireflies.

I had NO idea there were fireflies in New York, I says. And Bob looks at my funny with a wizened East Coast "Duh!' Hey, I thought they were just in the Midwest and on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.

WOW!!! I was so thrilled and just AMAZED. There were these actual creatures twinkling and leading a path down to the river. I will never forget it. Magic. It WAS Disneyland as far as I was concerned.