Outrage of Liz and Bob
Liz and Bob, former attorneys and now Alpaca and horse breeders, were telling us about their outrage at the Bush family's degenerate comments throughout the occurrence of the horrendous natural disasters, Katrina and Rita. They were disturbed not only because their comments diminish them as people, but because the news has spread around the world. They read the comments in The China Post, of all places.

Those comments have diminished the United States. Barbara, George and Laura may not have intended to be flip, but not being intellectuals, they spew a lot of garbage. Sorry, ex-librarian, you are no sage, Liz, a sage, said. Laura was quoted in the Chinese newspaper as saying, when Katrina was ruining lives right and left that "It's very important to get your children in school. It gives children a sense of normalcy." Yeah, sure Laura. You try it in the middle of such hellish devastation.

Laura's Little Party and a Hero's Decline of the Invitation
Wow! If it's location, location, location, it is also timing, timing, timing. Iraq is sliding into a morass. Americans are still dying daily because of an insane man's wish to invade a foreign country. Americans are outside the White House calling for the return of their children from that insane war zone, and Laura Bush is holding a fancy dinner, fancy breakfasts, teas, at the White House to celebrate the National Book Festival.

Poet Sharon Olds was invited to the festivities and dinner at the White House, and also invited to read from her work. How tempting to accept such an invitation and receive such wide acclaim. However, Poet Olds has more principles than desires for acknowledgement of her talents. Doing what lesser people wouldn't even fathom, she wrote a letter to Laura Bush declining. Liz just wanted us to quote you a couple of paragraphs from that letter Ms. Olds wrote to Laura Bush. It will show you the courage and principles of a fine woman, who may well speak for many people in the country at this time. She wrote:

"I tried to see my way clear to attend the festival in order to bear witness, as an American who loves her country and its principles and its writing - against this undeclared and devastating war.

But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush administration.

What kept coming to the fore of my mind was that I would be taking food from the hand of the First Lady who represents the Administration that unleashed this war and wills its continuation, even to the extent of permitting 'extraordinary rendition': flying people to other countries where they will be tortured for us.

So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire. I thought of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives and flames of the candles, and I could not stomach it."

Kids Call Dinner Time
One of the youngsters rang the dinner gong. They headed for their table, and we headed to the large dining room where we have enlarged the table to hold our new neighbors, the two couples from Iraq who just moved here. Carmen and Jim prepared most of our dinner tonight. We all knew we'd be thinking of the dinner Ms. Olds declined to attend out of principle, and Liz offered this toast to Ms. Olds, a quote from Thomas Paine, written in 1791: "Man did not enter society to become worse than he was before, nor to have fewer rights than he had before, but to have those rights better secured."

A Slightly Somber Dinner, But Still Celebratory
A 2004 Sorelle Bronca Prosecco is what Carmen and Jim thought we'd most enjoy with their individual, minute Balsamic Lamb and Radicchio tartlets. A perfect hors d'oeuvre to start a dinner. Next, what a good broth, Chanterelle Mushrooms and Tortellini. The perfect match for the broth was a Pedro Domecq Amontillado Sherry. Jim had spent a good while on his salmon dish. He poached it in extra-virgin olive oil, served it with shiitake mushrooms and Brussels sprouts served with drawn butter. Jim and Carmen like Monini's Extra-Virgin olive oil. He and Carmen brought a 2002 Clos LaChance Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir to pair beautifully with the rich salmon.

A blueberry sorbet was a good palate cleanser, preparing us for their Lamb and Mushroom Meat Loaf with Pancetta. From their wine cellar, they brought an interesting Argentine wine, a Bodega Weinert 2002 Mendoza Carrascal, a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Probably we'll be tasting this wine more often. Carmen brought us small plates of Leek and Potato salad. The capers, pepper, mustard and baby greens she added made it a slightly piquant salad, enjoyed with a bit of Dutton Estate 2003 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. For the end of our meal, simplicity: an Old Chatham sheep's milk camembert paired with an Australian Shiraz, a Goundrey Shiraz Western Australia Offspring 2003.

Winding Down
More than satisfied with Jim and Carmen's dinner, we re-joined the younger set and sipped on Max's wonderful espresso. We believe we could have made Sharon Olds feel very, very welcome, since we were all so touched by principled refusal to dine with Laura Bush. Before everybody headed home, they suggested we direct you to the full letter Ms. Olds wrote. You can find it at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/olds

Summary:
Poet Sharon Olds wrote a letter to Laura Bush, declining an invitation to the White House and to the National Book Festival, and all for principle. Deep, sincere, patriotic principle. We need a whole country of people like Sharon Olds.