My Dearest Friend

Tonight we went to Faneuil Hall, along with some of my classmates, to see a reading of My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams. I figured that it would be good, but I had no idea how amazing it would be. Ted Kennedy, Deval Patrick, Michael Dukakis, along with their wives, read selected letters that Abigail and John Adams wrote to each other. It was moving, enlightening and often very funny. Deval Patrick has an excellent sense of comedic timing.

I think that my favorite part of the evening was watching the political couples interact. Michael Dukakis kept moving the microphone so that his wife could speak into it better. Deval Patrick kept looking over at his wife when he read the particularly romantic parts as if to say “I know how he felt.” Ted Kennedy seemed a little out of it, but I’m sure that he was just having an off night.

Abigail Adams was a real spitfire. I loved hearing her argue for women’s rights and gently nudging him in the wrong direction. I just might have to buy the book to read in my copious amount of free time. Free time. I think I remember what that was like.

After the reading, our class went for dinner at the Union Oyster House. Clearly, this was not my choice, as the only item on the menu that didn’t feature either meat or fish or both was chock full of mushrooms (mushroom ravioli). Mushrooms. My most hated of all foods. I felt like Marge Simpson at a seafood restaurant.

Waiter: I’m sorry, ma’am, but everything on the menu has fish in it.
Marge: Mmm, what about the bread? Does that have much fish in it?
Waiter: Yes.
Marge: I think I have some tic-tacs in my purse.
Waiter: Tic-tacs for the lady.

Except that it was mushrooms for the lady. And I ate them. And I enjoyed them! Mostly, because they were smothered in garlic and butter and cream (it’s ok! it was “lite cream!”) and you couldn’t really taste the mushrooms. Only the butter. And the garlic. Who doesn’t like garlic and butter? Crazy people, that’s who.

(My apologies if any of you don’t like garlic or butter)

(I still think you’re crazy)

(But I do apologize)

Anyways, a delicious meal was had by all. Even the mushroom hating vegetarians who are allergic to seafood. Note to self: you might want to start thinking about eating meat. You’re really limiting your options here. Note to everyone who has been trying to get me to eat meat for the last fifteen years: I don’t plan on listening to myself.

I’m full of ravioli (and a little glass of wine), the reading was wonderful and tonight’s episode of Heroes truly kicked ass (I love you, tivo!). And, with 23 minutes to spare, I have managed to stick with NaBloPoMo for another day. I didn’t even have to resort to lame posts from Kristian’s treo or pictures of our cats. It’s been a good evening.

Just for the hell of it, here is a picture of Sophie napping when she was a kitten:

I can haz tummy rubs?