Thank You, Steve & Joe

This morning I went to a brunch for ex-Californians residing in Manhattan. Well, to be honest, it was an excuse for Hollaback and Christo and I to get together over food. We met in a busy French bistro on the Upper West Side and swapped stories over coffee, salad and Lorraine omelets. A particular highlight for me was seeing my dear old Hollaback. I haven't seen her for over a month and there were big hugs all around when we were reunited. I really miss her so it was lovely to finally have some face time. I'm determined not to let so much time pass between get togethers again.

While it was a delight to catch up, I really could have had another hour with Hollaback just talking about more personal details of our lives. In the car in the old commuting days, no topic was off limit and I miss those deep and often hilarious exchanges. So if you're reading this, Hollaback, I see brunch at that lovely cafe in Fort Tryon in our near future. Yes?

I took Hollaback's birthday gift with me to the brunch. It was a hodgepodge of stuff: A leopard spotted rubber duck with devil horns, a bag of gummy bears (a sad substitute because I couldn't find the cinnamon gummy bears she likes), dinosaur action figures and a bottle of Becherovka that I had smuggled out of the Czech Republic wrapped in ten T-shirts and buried deeply in my luggage.

In exchange, Hollaback gave me a one pound bag of Red Vines that the divine Royal Oak Boys had brought for me when they came to New York on their recent visit. I cradled the bag in my arms like a first born infant; this is a very special gift.

I was touched the Boys remembered that Red Vines were my ultimate sweet. You can't buy Red Vines on the East Coast. They only sell Twizzlers here and Twizzlers suck. They taste like the plastic coating on a fiber optic wiring system. There's only one true licorice and that's Red Vines. MCFOG and I consumed a fair quantity of it at the movies in our childhoods and I consider it a treat beyond all measure.

When Hollaback pulled that generous bag of Red Vines out of her bag, I nearly swooned. Better than a pound of thick cut applewood smoked pepper back bacon. Better than four kinds of artisinal cheese. Better than a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. It's practically manna from heaven.

Thank you, Steve & Joe. You rock.