Hey, things are looking up. Was able, after all, to go to Leslie's for the luncheon (Leslie's little ladies' lunch) and greatly enjoyed it. Pat got up late, and I helped him shave and dress before breakfast, which meant we didn't eat until almost 11:00. However, that was okay because I didn't have to wait until after his nap to help him dress. Left his lunch, took the cell phone, and walked three houses down to Leslie's.
Leslie had Barb D. and Angela S. from here, plus two women from her church (I had met one before). The food was wonderful, especially a layered salad that made a gorgeous presentation in a trifle bowl, and was delicious. So were the eggplant parm, spinach cheese squares, tomatoes in oil and basil, carrots (she had a Halloween theme!), and dark breads, to name just a few. Dessert included an absolutely sublime angel-food cake with rum icing, fruit, and a delectable pumpkin pie.
We talked and talked, our conversation ranging from religion to shopping habits, to childhood environs (we didn't touch on politics, probably just as well). Leslie gave each of us a "favor"--a little book with inspirational essays in it. She wrote a note to me, very warm and touching. Again and again, I thank my lucky stars (where in the hell did that expression come from?) that we moved here five years ago.
Earlier, Betty had called. We chatted a bit, but I was busy and called her back when I got home about 4:00. Called Jack B., who had called Wednesday to see how the surgery had gone. P. called after dinner to ask the same.
All in all, I had a wonderful day, which did a lot to lift my spirits.
Now, some political stuff. A fierce debate is raging--as ever--among anti-war liberals about whether to vote for the lesser evil of the major candidates or for a candidate for peace who has virtually no chance. I'm going with the latter and here's part of the reason:
"Unconditional voting for the least worst of the two parties means that your vote has no political leverage whatsoever. It allows Obama to take it for granted, and not give the anti-war people anything because he knows he has the anti-war vote. Then they go to the right wing and slice off a few votes there by going more corporate and flip-flopping on offshore drilling. This is the same merry-go-round every four years. The liberal intelligentsia is doomed unless they solve this problem of unconditional voting for the least worst candidate." (From one of the blogs I read.)