Man on the Run

What a long day. I couldn't bring myself to do any work today. Spent most of the afternoon reading transcripts of the HUAC hearings: Lillian Helman, Paul Robeson, Pete Seeger. Started out with the Joseph Welch testimony and the "Have you no decency, sir?" transcript. What a bizarre, terrifying time.

Drove to North Haven, CT yesterday to attend Mary's post-wedding barbeque celebration. I've never had to socialize alone with Kate's family before but Kate is in the middle of finals and very sensibly decided not to go, so I went along to represent the two of us. I got to meet Mary's newly adopted seven-year-old son Rinat who seemed very happy and full of affection for his new parents. Jousef, Mary's other recent lifestyle addition (read: husband) was in good spirits, carrying out husband related tasks and taking pictures, although he mentioned to me his discomfort in being surrounded by so many unfamiliar people. He had just one personal friend at the barbeque and the rest were Mary's side. The Fitzpatrick contingent was quite small; even Joe didn't show up (it's unclear whether he stayed away in protest at Mary's egregiously uncatholic lifestyle, or because of some other conflict). Most of those in attendance were friends or work-colleagues of Mary's. Alas, the mythical Dr. Fleck was not in attendance, which adds weight to my theory that he is actually just a figment of Mary's imagination. I did meet a guest who claimed to be a relative of Dr. Fleck but I'm sure she must have been a paid stooge.

As I was getting ready to leave the party Kate's father Nihil gave me a box of three hundred garbage bags to take back with me. He said he'd bought a box for each member of the family. My guess is he got a good price on them. Either that or he wants us to wrap the Reichstag.