1. On Sunday, the Westminster Basement Study Group will discuss the second episode of The Hollow Crown. Episode 2 is a slightly condensed version of Henry IV, part 1.
I was all ready to watch it this afternoon, but accidentally got into a superb discussion with Debbie about reading fiction. It had been a long time since I'd had such a great conversation about forms of narration, point of view, the reliability and unreliability of a narrator, genre and vision, and other aspects of reading fiction. We also talked about the value of reading fiction as a way of learning about things that lay well outside one's own lived experience and the possibility, if the reader is open to it, of fiction increasing one's ability to empathize with and have compassion for others, for experiences beyond what the reader has experienced in life.
So, watching Shakespeare performed on television will wait another day.
Having this impromptu and fascinating discussion with Debbie was the much better thing to do today.
2. At some point this afternoon, I mentioned how much I had enjoyed getting together with Debbie, Debbie, and Steve on Thursday and that I had thoroughly enjoyed continuing my campaign to SAVE THE PORTER.
Debbie's response?
Let's go to Radio.
So we did.
We plopped down at a table near the front window. It turned out to be a private place to sit -- and being there gave me a front row seat to watch the fantastically costumed and made-up Wardner Witches as they cruised by on a trailer pulled by a pickup truck. Turns out, they were on their way to the Elks for burgers.
I ordered a porter and Debbie did, too. Hers was a chocolate peanut butter porter. Yes, that's right! Right now Radio is pouring TWO porters! I'll order one of those chocolate peanut butter porters another day. I tasted Debbie's and as with all the beers Fred and Ashley brew at Radio, it was really good - the peanut butter and chocolate flavors are subtle and the beer has a nice light bitter finish.
Our conversation at Radio was awesome, the porters were terrific, and we got to talk a bit with our niece Molly who works at Radio and was taking orders and pouring drinks.
3. Wow!
Great living room conversation with Debbie about fiction.
Superb porters and more first-rate yakking with Debbie at Radio Brewing.
Could this day continue to be awesome?
Yes!
This evening, starting at five o'clock, members of the Kellogg High School Class of 1972 met in the non-smoking back room at the Lounge to begin planning for our 50th High School Reunion.
We had a good turnout.
And we got our business done.
If all goes according to plan, we'll start the reunion on Friday, July 15, 2022 with an informal get together at Diane's vacation rental, continue with an evening dinner on Saturday, July 16th, and I think some classmates are planning to play some golf on July 17th.
More details will be forthcoming, but, unless we have to make a change for some unforeseen reason, as of now, if you are a KHS Class of 1972 member, please come to Kellogg the weekend of July 15th so we can all celebrate that grand night fifty years ago when we graduated from high school and the chance to see each other again.
I'd like to add that apart from our dicussion in the back room, the Lounge was abuzz with happy people. Debbie didn't join in our reunion planning session, but she had great conversations with a number of people including Fitz, Deanne, Ginger, Ron D, and, once we had finished our business, she joined our table in the back room and added her vitality to that party.
I had a great time, sustained by a delicious order of Seafood Lo Mein from Wah Hing, talking with my classmates and also talking with people at the bar. I hadn't seen either Mike Grebil or Ron Delcamp for a long time and enjoyed our conversations. I learned that Dick Goodson and Stu were Little League teammates for a season on the Canyon team. And, among all these conversations, I was also able to keep pretty close track of Atlanta's masterful 2-0 victory over Houston in Game 3 of the World Series.
Cas was very busy working the bar, but we managed to squeeze in some superb bits of conversation about the World Series and, since I was wearing my "Wait a minute Chester" hoodie, we had a great talk about The Band and especially the late great Levon Helm.
What an afternoon!
What an evening!
What a great day!
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