Yesterday, Lila and Terry called on their way to somewhere else, and came over to have lunch with us. They arrived in their new (2003) BMW, powder-blue convertible, so very happy with it, riding like a dream. They brought champagne and orange juice. I had mine neat. We stood in the driveway and drank it and Lila took photos of us next to THE CAR.

Then Lila let Ed drive us to lunch. We rode with the top down. Yes, indeed, youthful elation suffused moi. We went to Cape Harbor in Cape Coral. It is so beautiful, you don’t expect it to be in Cape Coral (Cape Coma as we call it). We ate at Rumrunners. The food was great. I had blackened salmon on a wonderful salad and white wine. We sat outdoors next to the marina waters. There were zillion dollar boats moored there. It is a condo community with shops and restaurants. I felt like I was in a movie.

When we were leaving, a party of people at the next table (whom I had not noticed) said, “You’re going. Was it something we said?” “Not at all,” I replied, “but we can’t stand you.” We all laughed.

Terry may accept a job down here in Naples/Miami, to arrange art gallery events. He’s iffy about it. They won’t give up their New York loft, but will commute. Lila travels overseas a lot, researching fashion lines for her client, Chico’s, but they have learned how to be together while apart part of the time. I was thinking if they are down here more, Ed and I could travel to Manhattan and stay in their loft. They have offered it many times.

On Christmas Eve I helped other volunteers assemble the luminaria at a nearby empty lot. The bags were placed a car length apart on all the streets of the island. It is a beautiful sight. Later, the candles were lit and Ed and I, and others, walked down the Avenue enjoying the lights. We stopped at the home of a couple who operate Italian ice carts at various malls. They had a cart out front and gave away free ices – mango, raspberry, pina colada, pomegranate -- I had more than one.

I spent this morning cleaning cat hair off the protective bedspread I have put over the fancy bedding. That’s working out. The bedding is very comfy. Who cares if you can’t see it?

Irwin and Julie, who spent several days nearby (he’s allergic to cats), left Christmas Eve morning to drive back to Brooklyn. They said it was a big mistake to be traveling on Christmas Day because all the decent restaurants were closed and they had to make do with horrid meals at desperate little eateries. Heavy rains slowed them down, but there was no snow, a minor miracle in itself. All is back to “normal”.

xx, Teal