i couldn't agree with tom friedman more. change the channel. please. i'm just waiting for the day when mideast news is once again below the fold -- or, dare i even whisper it, off the front page completely.
andrea called me this morning while i was, as has become my custom, reading in my sun-chair in my pajamas mindlessly eating leftover stuffing. DIS picnic, she reminded me. was i interested? after obtaining shannon's approval for the change of plans, i acquiesced, and andrea and i made elaborate plans to meet in a particular car on a particular train. uplifted, cheerful, i packed a bag, dressed for the season -- socks'n'sandals, tee-shirt'n'winter coat, sunglasses -- and hopped downstairs. then on the busride to the train station, i caught sight of a whole street full of riot police suiting up.

that reminded me. rally today. 2 pm, pro-israel. i was torn. should i proceed as planned to the picnic, to lounge about w/ andrea, her christian, estella, her christian, and other DISers and host families? was opting for that being cowardly?
deciding resignedly yes to both, i continued on to the train station. later the last couple lines from a poem "advice to my son" appeared in my head, offering some comfort: "and always serve bread with your wine/ but son, always serve wine." maybe i've had enough bread for the week.

as for the wine, i enjoyed it much. beautiful, undanish sunshine; good people; a long walk, lots of pictures, and a talkative, apolitical crowd. i didn't think about anything happening outside of dyrehaven once except to remember lana's organization of TBTN and to wish her, without irony, weather as lovely as ours.