this week I did

[ellen_kushner]

I was hit hard a week ago by the news of the death of our beloved Diana Wynne Jones.  Meant to write a long post about how I met her (when I was a young editor), and the influence her books and our conversations have had on me - and I still mean to.  First, I had to wait til I was less miserable.  And then the Carnival of Projects hit the fan . . . All week it's been finalizing (and re-recording my host-y bits) to The Witches of Lublin . . . and pulling together fun Sekrit cool things for Welcome to Bordertown.  And seeing hard-to-see friends old and new . . . We took Delia's HS pal Kaye and her about-to-graduate-from-the-same-HS daughter out to tea at Lady Mendl's Tearoom, where I've always wanted to go. (Don't.  Not if you like actual tea, and don't think of it as a pale brown water poured from a china pot by a snooty waiter [and no little sieve! because obviously it was bags! despite the fancy-schmancy menu claiming there were all sorts of different subtle exotic flavors.  Ha.], accompanied by oversweet cake and ritual.  The sandwiches were good, though.)  Also saw the Red and White Quilts at the Armory, and very glad we did - they were the best Public Art since the Gates in Central Park. I took pictures, which I'll have to put up for you.  Wait, no I won't  - because others have.  Which is good, because you can't go; it's over.  Went to the MetMuseum to see members' preview of Rooms with a View: The Open Window in the 19th Century.  You know how I feel about windows.  Also caught the last day of the Roman Mosaic from Lod.  Fish & leopards particularly charming.  Introduced Delia's other HS friend to Korean BBQ, which she'd never been anywhere near.  But game as pebbles, those Chapin girls!  Saw most of Cat Valente's Deathless performance at Madame X on Monday night, and many fine friends were there.  Cat came over for tea next day, and we schemed more cool B'town stuff, including she now has a Welcome to Bordertown ARC in her Prize Basket!   Go look.

All of which is to say that I was very glad to read just now in the NYTimes wedding section that a young man named Walker Forehand has just gotten married in D.C.  Walker Forehand . . . imagine.  It restores one's faith in humanity.