Amazing night

I was honored and pleased to be invited by my friend Sue to attend the memorial service for her husband, John Leonard, the other night. The service was wonderful and amazing--I was sitting next to the woman who owns the online group I belong to and when I opened up the program, I gasped to her "Is this the list of people who are here? And speaking?" I asked, because the second person on the list was Toni Morrison.

But of course she was there, she came in pain from a pinched nerve--John was the one who first championed her and her writing. I was so happy just to be able to say hello to her as she was leaving.

But then there was a "private" reception (really, I think almost everyone at the service was also invited to that--it was so crowded!). Anyway, this is how I got to spend a few moments chatting with E.L. Doctorow and then, later, Calvin Trillin (I had to stalk him a little bit, actually--and then I don't think I made a good impression, but hey, I somehow found the guts to talk to him!).

And I could have spoken to Gloria Steinem and/or Letty Cottin Pogrebin, if I had been able to think of anything to say.

But the best part was getting to meet Sue's mom. Sue has written about her mother for some time and she's in her 90s and still going to protests and getting herself arrested. She's a tiny little thing, I can't imagine what the cops think of her, but I'm guessing they take very good care while they're putting the cuffs on. At least I hope so. But what really impressed me was how bright and intelligent her eyes are. she gives me hope that Sue will be both long-lived and keep her wits about her until the end, too.

Which is more than I can say for myself, at least the wits. Unless the vaccine they're working on for Alzheimer's actually works and it gets on the market before I lose more of my wits. What's left of them.