1) I was lounging around writing for about an hour before the boys got up. "How do you feel about breakfast out?" they asked? "Love it! How much time do I have?" "Ten minutes." Whoosh! I put myself into presentable condition, and we sallied forth into a bright day.
2) We went inland for breakfast, up Shankpaintah to Chych, a wonderful diner just beyond the supermarket. I had a superb smoked salmon benedict, and I think we all had good talk.
2a) Good ensemble cast films were sort of a running topic throughout the weekend. At different times I brought up my beloved Weekend at the Waldorf and Boogie Nights, and Robert mentioned the original Murder on the Orient Express and What's Up, Doc?
3) More laziness around the pool, and then I determined to head into town for lunch. En route, I noticed a handsome young man wearing a tank top with an arresting message: May the Bridges I Burn Light the Way. He seemed just as taken with my shorts (the blue ones printed with pink martinis), which led to some nice banter as we passed on Comical Street. Neither of us slowed down.
3a) He appeared to have a boyfriend. They always have boyfriends.
4) Before déjeuner seul, I needed a book (I had not carried White Trash with me), which required spending about half an hour at Tim's Used Books, both browsing and chatting with Tim, both of which I always enjoy. I came away with Priscilla: The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France.
5) But I didn't end up with a chance to start reading it over lunch. Ye Rysse's Grylle at ye Whyler's Whyrffe seemed the path of least resistance, and after a wait at the host's desk I was shown to a seat at the short end of the bar (the long end faces away from the windows). I busied myself with the menu, and then with my new book, when I became aware of a Disturbance in the Force to my left. Long story short, it was my dear friend M. Davide, also enjoying déjeuner seul au bar! "Well, you were never going to look up from your book . . ." "And of course the light's in my eyes, but now I can certainly recognize your silhouette!" After about five minutes of us hog-calling information to each other across the bar, the three Gentlemen Older Than Us had been so sufficiently entertained that the one sitting next to M. Davide graciously offered to change seats with me.
5a) That, of course, led to déjeuner deux au bar comme des copines avec des chapeaux. With his pink champagne and my Aperol spritz, we were the Dynkin' Dynuts combo of champagne cocktails.
6) After seeing M. Davide off to the sad boat, i was Very Bad and went to ye Byn and Jyrry's for a small bourbon brown butter, which was really Very Bad and Wrong of me. But the benefit was encountering a friend and his boyfriend (who I hadn't yet met) outside Town Hall. OH MY GOD, IT'S YOU!
7) Back at the house on my own, I attempted to concentrate on some planning for September and a column on Ariana Grande and the bishop at Aretha Franklin's funeral.
8) We three had been invited to Hochmina-sur-Mer for dinner, and Andy prepared some exquisite smoked salmon and cucumber hors d'oeuvres to bring. I remain in awe of people who can create things to eat that look so perfect. Perfect! I simply cannot do it myself.
8a) En route we saw the Provincetown Fox skulking about on Pleasant Street! Daddy needs a new fur coat, but not that . . .
9) There were ten around the table at Hochmina-sur-Mer! Very casual, very nice dinner, real gemütlichkeit.
10) I needed an early night after all that!