"Fortune brings in some boats that are not steer'd." (Cymbeline)

.....During the last three days I was treated to two luncheons sponsored by the City of Hope, the charitable organization whose chapter Rhoda is President of and I'm First Man. The first luncheon was on Wednesday and it was called the "donor" luncheon, evidently to recognize those members who have donated several sums of money to the Huntington Lakes' Chapter. At the Benvenuto Restaurant, there were about 120 women and "several" men whose money goes to the hospital in California where their research and doctors have as their purpose the curing of catastrophic diseases of both adults and children. That morning, I had as my breakfast a cup of coffee and a Mallomar. At the luncheon the salad consisted of mainly Romaine lettuce, which I don't touch, and some brisket which I don't eat unless Rhoda makes it. So I waited for the dessert which turned out to be a "profiterole"--pastry filled with ice cream. That was lunch. I have no recollection of what we had for dinner, though I know I must have had something, for she wouldn't let me get away with skipping it. We were supposed to be entertained by some guy, but he showed up an hour late while people were leaving, and the excuses he gave for being late was sufficient entertainment for me.

.....Yesterday's luncheon was held at a big hotel in Ft. Lauderdale and that was the "Children's Luncheon". There were all the City of Hope chapters in South Florida--approximately 300 women and "several" men. (Why are women always "lunching" and giving away their money and guys just sit around doing nothing?) The only luncheons where guys outnumber women are those that celebrate some sporting event or athlete. At any rate, I was determined to have a better breakfast than I had on Wednesday, and I suggested to Rh+ that we stop at a Dunkin' Donut's where I could get a cup of coffee and a coffee roll, but it was too late because we had to pick up a bus at the clubhouse that would spirit us away to this luncheon. Again, the salad was not up to my standard, and the meat did not look too appetizing, so once more, I waited on the dessert which turned out to be a thumb-sized piece of apple pastry. I told Rhoda that I'd like to stop at McDonald's to get a juicy hamburger for dinner, but as we were about to leave the house, it started raining in buckets, so I had to settle for a sardine sandwich at home. I can't wait to attend these same luncheons next year--they were so much fun!

.....Rho's daughter, son-in-law-, and Ally and Ilana were supposed to fly in early last night for Presidents' week, but they allowed four people who "had to get to Florida quickly" to take their tickets. But the airline gave each of them $500 to give up their seats. Two thousand dollars just to take a later flight. The airline even treated them to dinner. They did finally get in---at 3 a.m.--but $2000 richer. Nothing like that has enriched me lately. I just fall out of top bunks on auto trains, get melanoma surgery which doesn't heal for five months, get a mountain of bottled water to fall on me in Walmart, break my hip on a cruise ship and have to spend five weeks in rehab.

,,,,, I'm all atwitter to see what fortune awaits me next.