We did a couple great things yesterday. And, as an aside, Ray has been good company when I needed him this week, even though he is busy making up his tests for finals next week. We left about 8 to pick up Janna. She was presenting at a conference on educational policy. I stayed for the first hour. I didn't learn anything really interesting, but met some good people.

I went out to take the bus up to north campus. There was a woman there who had stayed at IHN. She had been one of the most difficult. She hugged me and told me she had been working at Dial America for three years. It was very strange, but made me feel pretty good.

I met Ray at the chapel for Ben's memorial service. It was amazing! Of course, I saw lots of people that I know and love. People were hugging me that I couldn't remember who they were... But the service was designed to be funny and upbeat, with a minimum of weepy reminiscences and many talented people. Derek says we should talk about Ben in the present tense. He talked about throwing away some screws as they struck the set for Sherlock Holmes and thinking...Ben is going to be pissed...Jeff Evans played the bagpipes...Allen Rowell read...John Vance read...and at the end, Florence King led a singalong of "Here Comes the Sun." Apparently Fran doesn't drive...she was fine, and is going to visit her sisters, but will need support later. I talked to Ben's mom, who seemed truly amazed at the tremendous number of people who loved him. Dave Anderson says Harriet will crash soon. I said call me. I'll be there...

After the luncheon at the Holiday Inn, where I talked to Molly Moran and Janet Robertson mostly, I met my Mom at Talbot's for some retail therapy (a violation of my anti-consumer pledge...has it been a month yet?). I bought a cute skirt with a matching purple top. I really like it. We also went to Coldwater Creek. She never had as much shopping stamina as I do, and I know many people who have more. But of course now shopping is really exhausting for her. Just getting in and out of several pairs of pants in a row is hard.

We were going to have potage bonne femme for supper, which Mom had made the day before...but it had gone sour, since it wasn't refrigerated overnight. so sad!

Ray and I went to Cine. Elizabeth Fields (Kelly's daughter) has apparently really found her niche as a poet! She has been the editor of Mandala, a journal of African-American writing at UGA for four years. Now she is going to St. Louis University. She is beautiful and talented (and she is Eris's Mom). Four years ago, she seemed much less confident and somewhat angry and unfocused. Last night she was great. There were even three young black women from Clarke Central, who read their poetry. And Reginald McKnight, who is apparently a professor at UGA and has won lots of national acclaim for his work. There was also a guy, Daniel, who has been studying Arabic and is going to Beirut. It was the party for the publication of Mandala and I really enjoyed it very much.