Although party invitations no longer frightened to me, I found myself making carefully preparations for this particularly party. I got a haircut, laid out my best suit, selected a special shirt, a colorful tie, and cufflinks. I had recently went on a diet, but because I didn't want I looked too thin, I discontinued it. What should I bring my hosts? Flowers? Wine? What kind of the wine? Port? Sherry? Or possibly even champagne? Meeting new people was still a major undertaking. It was schedule for this Saturday and I decided to take a cab to the suburb where it was being hold. It was early autumn and the weather was mild, but that morning it turned cold and rainy, and as I listened to the steam hissing in my radiator, it already fell like midwinter. From my newspaper, I learned that a hurricane which had already struck another state was in its way to New York, though it might veer out to sea.