We haven't been out to the Rabinowitzes for ages, so I was quite glad to run into Toby last week and hear that there was a gathering Sunday evening. To my surprise there were many new faces, although that probably shouldn't have been surprising since we really haven't been to a party up there for a year or more. We saw Mary Fearon and her parents; Terry Reilly and his partner whose name I don't know; Annie, who lives on Long Street and invited us to join her Veggie Co-op Potluck group; The Hoekmans (came as we were leaving); and a few more familiar faces without names. We met the Lewises of the Georgestown Bakery, of whom Jean was in awe. There were lots of families: two with little babies, and enough kids of Jean and Eleanor's ages to mount a sledding excursion to the cabbage patch. Terry held court in the music room, and there were a couple small pianists, many small percussionists, and Jean's and my violins. Jean played Twinkle Theme and Taka-Taka-Stop-Stop and did terrifically - she said she was very proud of the way she continued on even though she was distracted by Terry's accompaniment, the large crowd of strangers, and her feeling "embarrassed". She played on the condition that I play also, which I did: Twinkle Theme, The Highland Laddie, and Mussels in the Corner. I didn't do nearly as well as Jean. I really have to polish a few party pieces.
The food, of course, was incredible, even though we brought nothing for, I think, the first time ever. Highlights: Squash Soup, very different from my version; Foccacia; Broccoli Salad; pineapple and clementines; bagels from Georgestown; apricot cake. And much wine, beer, and hot drivers' punch with oranges. To sit next to a person drinking Honey Brown Ale is not an experience not badly affected by the beer, all else being equal. The girls didn't find a lot to eat that wasn't sweets, but Jean inhaled a large bowl of squash soup, and Eleanor had two pieces of herb foccacia. They had a good time, thankfully. We promised Mike and Melba to get together before spring - perhaps sometime in the depths of late winter we can have the New Year's party that we didn't have because of illness.