Jane Green, Beach House, Nantucket in the same sentence. Can’t wait to read it. The mention of the beautiful 60-something stranger that based her character on reminds me of a woman I often saw on Ocean Ave in Carmel-by-the-Sea when I lived there. A stand out. Gorgeous thick gray hair, blunt-cut shoulder lenght, red lipstick, sunglasses, tan, Schlumberger white & gold bracelet, white pants, navy/white boat neck top. Svelte, great posture. Then one day I stopped in the cafe in this ‘celebrity lifestyle’ vid below and she was on line too. We spoke and wound up having coffee. She’s a close friend of the Pelosi’s and had a huge crush on Nancy’s husband who she said is the most charming man in SF. I responded that also had a long time crush on someone, but never acted on it because he’s married. She kept asking me his the name. I never name names…but she was so intent to know, so I finally said it. “That’s my cousin!” I never mentioned a name ever again. So embarrasing. But it’s interesting, Jane, how someone can catch your eye and leave an imprint when hundreds of others never do. http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/

That’s quite a story, Suzanne, and such a coincidence that your crush turned out to be her cousin––love that kind of thing. It’s that six degrees of separation. Re: Green. Never read her–am not much of a popular fiction fan. What’s your assessment of her works?

Winery - that’s HILARIOIUS.. recently I was on a road trip with my best friend. One day we just took a meandering ride into the middle of nowhere in Montana. wound up at a tiny little town with a hotsprings in it. The woman who was working at the hotsprings and I got to chatting. I had dated her brother 29 years earlier!!! Six degrees of separation… Phyllis.. I haven’t read any of Janes books either. I should run out and grab one. I’m done with my latest.

Thanks for the heads up…I haven’t read anything by her. It will be a while for me because I’m into some other books.

This discussion reminds me of earlier this week taking some time in Peet’s Cafe. Somehow, I paid much more attention to the crowd at the time that peeked my curiosity. All of the patroners sitting at tables wore halo’s of white and silver. Sitting on either side of me were men basking in their achieved leisure. Perched in the corners of the cafe were the gatherings of enthroned crones with the statuesque posture of peacocks! I tuned in to the conversations on my one side, and these silver foxes (one sporting the profile and coiffure of Abraham Lincoln) shared stories about a woman who looked like she worked on a farm her self for 20 years but still managed to catch his attention whenever they met at a social event. She always had something so intriguing to say to him. He spoke of her like she excited him so to be around her. This table also spoke of the Olympics and some of the athletes that were participating. They themselves looked healthy and happy and looking for a special event, wherever that was! On the other side of me another couple, Abraham Lincoln played a more stoic character while the other carried on with information of a type of blood test. Then from a rather long in depth clinical take on something, they moved to the subject of “women” in their “circle”. This segway was more whispered between them as if not even angels should hear! Yet, the grande plume sitting so proud and exquisite dressed in all the shades of white, tan, linens, and other colors of pale made me proud. To know that some day, I will hope to sit as if on my own throne as if it’s no one elses business. The women that in that short time I took to notice, will for sure be part of my memory file and especially to know that there will still be those “silver foxes” out there looking for their heart to “skip a beat or two”

Catherine de Pearl…..So beautifully evocative of today’s ‘cafe society.’ Hope to read more of your great observations and writing…made my heart skip a beat or two!