Greetings Well Met Fellow, Hail!

Last night we went to a Holiday party hosted by our friends Arnold and Cathay. They typically have the party before Christmas, but this year waited until one of their 3 daughters and son in law could make it in from their home in Hong Kong.

Arnold and his wife Cathay are Wifey and my polar opposites politically. They're staunch Conservatives, and thought Sarah Palin was the finest candidate on the national scene in years. They're both practicing Catholics, and are very pro-life.

Despite this, we've remained good friends, and the core values are why: they exalt in their families and friends.

They had about 100 people to their house last night. Arnolds closest friends are 2 fellows he met in high school, both Jewish and much more Liberal than he. One is now a medical professor at Harvard, and the other a well known civil rights lawyer and former Clinton administration member. The lawyer, Sam, went to Harvard, and has 3 sons --the youngest a freshman at Harvard, the middle one a Harvard grad and now a "green" business exec in Boston, and the oldest also a Harvard grad and now writer for "The Colbert Report."

In the midst of the party --Arnold asked for everyone's attention. Arnold, a former Auburn U lineman, is a tall and imposing fellow,with a commanding presence. When he asks for attention; people listen. "How many of you know any Emmy winners?" he asked. He held up a photo of a young man. "Well, you do now. Sam's boy won an Emmy for his writing on the 'Colbert' show. How about that?!!!" We all applauded.

I kvelled. Here was Arnold celebrating the accomplishments of a dear friend's son. It was beautiful --the truest expression, in my book, of friendship.

Arnald has 3 gorgeous daughters. The oldest married a former grade school friend, who is now an aircraft leasing executive in Hong Kong. The young man, Jason, used another childhood friendship to his benefit: he played little league with a skilled infielder, who grew up to be known as A -Rod. A-Rod helped him start his career.

The middle girl is a lawyer, married to another lawyer, and just had a baby. Wifey and I love watching our former babysitter now babysit her own baby.

The youngest girl, a bubbly Daisy Miller, is a first year law student in JAcksonville.

So, with much to be proud of in his own family, Arnold chose to spotlight a dear friend's child.

D1 and D2 were at the party. Afterward, I joked that I was arranging marriages to the 2 younger Harvard boys, especially since Wifey really adores their mother.

On the way out, Arnold joked with us, OBama supporters, that this may be his last big party, as the coming increased taxes may make him too poor. We laughed, and I told Arnold what he already knew: with his family and friends, no matter his bank account statement, he was one of the richest men I knew.