One of my favorite things about coming home to Alexandria is the spread of cheese, meats, olives and nice beer and wine that inevitably awaits each time I arrive. Vinnie told me yesterday that my father said to him, "Well, Justin and Cara are coming up, we've got to get some cheeses and things," with a resigned air as though it was necessity, and not desire, that fueled the purchase of such items.

When we arrive, late or early, the bags are pulled from the fridge. J normally chooses some new kind of beer from afar, while I opt for a glass of red wine in a ceramic wine glass and we sit at the counter and make a mess. It's certainly becoming habit. It may be becoming necessity. Sometimes I don't want to leave. Maybe just stay a few weeks and drink good wine nightly, exist on snacks and enjoy digital cable.