Last night I took myself out to enjoy a bit of New York nightlife. I was in a celebratory mood (another triumph in my professional life) and directed my steps toward a downtown establishment little advertised yet packed always, and was instantly met there by the sights and sounds of hot young things in mid-revel. They had all gathered, no doubt, to drink healths to themselves, each other and the world in general. All very admirable. I joined in with them, my brothers (for there were no ladies present) to raise my glass. I soon made the acquaintance of a young gentleman from Iowa who was standing quite near me at the bar and who confessed that since my arrival he'd been burning to know me. He admitted that he'd observed my entrance and my expert positioning at the crowded bar (it's true, there is an art to that). His eyes had feasted (feasted!) on my elegant ensemble and my graceful carriage within it (these midwestern boys don't miss a trick). Since then he'd been searching for the perfect opening line with which to detain me. "Thank you," I said, "that's very kind. And I'm sure sincerely felt". Now why do I go on talking like that amid hot young things dressed in sweat-drenched Diesel in a downtown backalley club that has probably never even been mopped? Unfortunately, once I've started... Nevertheless I smiled and my admirer pressed on. At around our fourth drink I became aware of his superb physical condition (perhaps we shook hands or something) and his even greater desire to enter into a friendship with me.

As a young man (although not nearly as young as some) I discovered that in a crowded room I would often attract the attention of many of the gentlemen there but never that of the ladies. For a long time this puzzled me...
Life, I later realised, is nothing but a series of experiences strung together on a line and hopefully along the way some lessons learned. I've learned to accept and enjoy life -mine happens to be a good one and could be a lot worse. Oh sorry, back to last night...

Anyone attempting to peer into the heavily draped windows of this downtown address would have just been able to discern the dim figures of two tall slender males sitting at the far end of the bar apparently in deep conversation. Prolonged vigil would have yielded no new information as the subjects stayed huddled at their seats until the small hours, unaware or uncaring of the din around them. Every now and then one would say something the other found funny, a small playful smile quickly turning to laughter. Or one would lean in to whisper a secret thought. And then suddenly they were gone. Only the two empty glasses, so often refilled, remained testament that anyone had even been there at all.