My wife, Barbara, went to church in the morning. I (the resident heathen) stayed home and spent some practice time with the guitar (I'm working on a couple of new songs—planning a performance in the not too far distant future). Then, we I had eight guests over for dinner, a sumptuous repast prepared by Barbara, with others contributing various dishes. Had to put a couple of leaves in the dinning room table.

There was Rita, 87 years old, who used to be our upstairs neighbor, but now lives in a retirement home, I believe. We share an interest in opera and when she lived above us, she, Barbara, and I used to attend Seattle Opera productions together. Paul, a member of our writers' group, and his friend Philip (Paul is an excellent writer, and Philip is learning to play the theremin). Nora, an old friend (and neighbor) whom Barbara met when she was working as a procedures writer for the City of Seattle thirty years ago (Nora is now an equestrian dentist—she does dental work on horses. Good at it. She's kind of a "horse whisperer."). Jo and her daughter Denise, who attend nearby Central Lutheran Church. Barbara and Jo work together with a group of developmentally delay adults who meet at the church. Denise has a collection of medals she won for swimming in the Special Olympics. Bernice, a health care worker and good friend of ours (Bernice has been taking guitar lessons from me for about two years now). And Nancy, a singer and guitarist whom I met back in the early Sixties while singing in coffeehouses. Nancy is still very active musically, and among other things, she sings with the Medieval Women's Choir here in Seattle. In addition to guitar, she plays vielle (a medieval bowed stringed instrument) and hurdy-gurdy.

Jo brought shrimp cocktail. The main course included chicken parmagiana, ginger carrots, asparagus spears, a couple kinds of bread (bought from the local Trader Joe's), a few other dishes. Wine. Dessert consisted of large slabs of lemon cake (baked by Barbara) and three kinds of ice cream (mix and match to taste). Coffee.

Sat around afterward burping and scratching. Good conversation with pleasant and enjoyable people. A very pleasant day.

After Bernice's guitar lesson late Monday morning, she, Barbara, and I ate up the rest of Jo's shrimp cocktail, the leftover veggies, and the bread for lunch. Still got some chicken for dinner tonight. I love leftovers!

Don Firth