Another anniversary!

The man and I have been married for 38 years today, and last night we celebrated with our children and heart children at Chef Tom Colicchio's flagship eatery Craft. The sommelier, Cheron Cowan, was lovely, every wine pairing told a story, and the entire staff was warmly attentive, making sure our little family celebration felt special. Every dish on our custom menu was perfectly delicious, and at the end of the meal the chef de cuisine Andrew Whitcomb came out to our table to ask if we'd enjoyed the meal. Oh yes, we certainly had. After talking with us a bit and sharing details of Tom Colicchio's cooking life—who knew he was the first to bring to America the French method of braising short ribs to that impossibly tender and flavorful outcome?—he invited us for a kitchen tour. Then, when we were leaving the sommelier Cheron impulsively opened her arms to me and said, "May I hug you?" which was the sweetest gesture, because the thought in my head the moment before was I'd love to hug her, but maybe it's not appropriate. She was one of those people you meet and have the sense that you already know each other. The entire evening was delightful, and we especially loved hearing about the newly marrieds' honeymoon adventures. Oh my darling man, how I love this family we have created together, and all these bonus children who bring us such joy. I would do this walk with you again and again, my love, in a million lifetimes. 

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Other updates: My new book contract came through yesterday and I signed it promptly so I am now officially on a new project. Meanwhile my husband is hard at work on a new scientific paper in which he and a colleague are identifying a newly discovered species of fish, and its distinctive characteristics. He had said to me recently, "I'd like to get my name on another scientific paper soon," and so he is.  As for our children, someone here remarked that they attend an inordinate number of weddings, and that is true! My son and his wife are off to England next week to attend the wedding of one of my son's mates, and the weekend after that they will back in the city, on their way to Connecticut for the wedding of yet another friend. Simultaneously, my daughter and her brand new husband leave for Mexico tonight to attend the wedding of two college friends, and when they get back they, too, will be heading north, to Ithaca, New York, for another college friend's wedding. My daughter and her love have already attended five weddings this year, and my son and his wife have attended a few as well. I think all this suggests that their generation is in their commitment era, and also that both my children have rather lovely circles of friends. May all these newlyweds share sublime love and laughter despite the many twists and turns and evolutions of marriage, that's my prayer for them all.

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I did watch the Democratic National Convention this week, and thrilled to so many highlights—in particular the Obamas speeches, and Kamala Harris's adorable nieces teaching the audience how to correctly say their auntie's name, and the moment when Coach Tim Walz's state championship winning football team walked onto the stage with their dad bods clad in their long ago high school jerseys and big grins on their faces, every one of them happy to be there for their former coach. Those men looked to me as if some of them might have previously voted for Trump, but I have a feeling they may vote differently this time. But it was Tim Walz's authentic sharing of himself and his family and his values as he accepted the VP nomination—and the beautiful sight of his 17-year-old son with one hand clasped to his chest and the other pointing to the stage as he cried, "That's my dad!"—that completely undid me. I imagine that like so many who watched Tim Walz speak, I was beaming with joy and optimism, because that is what Tim Walz and his true-hearted family inspire. And then last night, I cheered as Kamala Harris prosecuted the case against Trump, and shared her own policies and values, in such a powerful presentation that I was simply in awe of how much I had previously underestimated her. I can't wait to vote for her and her running mate in November. Are they perfect candidates? Such creatures do not exist. Are they the best hope for the future of our country? Oh, absolutely.