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Dear Quentin,
I attended a Christmas party in my neighborhood last night. I go to this party every year, and it’s usually a small group of people (20 maximum, plus their kids) from our school and college days, and some people from the arts (our shared profession) and the neighborhood. The hostess usually puts on a nice spread: dips, fresh bread, cuts of ham and beef, Christmas tree-shaped chips with hummus and salsa cruda, mince pies, chocolate squares, etc. There was an endless supply of wine and beer. If one went missing, they’d hardly miss it.
She lives in a large four-story home with her husband and two children. Basically, the party is your typical glamorous Hallmark Christmas Movie of the Week, with lots of well-heeled guests milling around, but with more expensive furniture and better interior design. It’s usually held on Dec. 23, so it’s great after holiday shopping. This year, I saw a friend of a friend, someone I knew from school, snatching a bottle of wine on the way out the door. I guess he thought no one would notice. It came in a gift bag, and it looked expensive. So much for holiday cheer.
