open doors and champagne, location mtg with lawrence barth
Our minds still full and buzzing from the George Stoll encounter, at dusk we entered a whole new realm of good. The three of us went to visit Lawrence who has graciously offered his home/manor for Get Hubbied. The spirit in which he opened his arms to the idea was unexpected (shock). I will quote parts of his immediate response to my first gentle pitch:
Our minds still full and buzzing from the George Stoll encounter, at dusk we entered a whole new realm of good. The three of us went to visit Lawrence who has graciously offered his home/manor for Get Hubbied. The spirit in which he opened his arms to the idea was unexpected (shock). I will quote parts of his immediate response to my first gentle pitch:
Gobsmacked - I'm not used to people saying yes so easily, or saying yes at all. I felt giddy but got down to business and asked relevant questions about how he entertains, how many people could comfortably be seated in the garden, what was off limits and such and such. After he said yes to 99% of everything, we were given champagne, lounged about in his living room surrounded by a stellar art and book collection, and neatly ordered curiosities, and had a spirited talk. He actually invited us to smoke! There is an ashtray in arms reach of every chair in the room. I smoked a cigarette entirely due to the opportunity to be decadent. He is a wonder. At no moment did I feel any social panic, and this situation would be ripe for that, but this is who he is - relaxed and positive.
Liz, Jon and I will put our heads together for a while and will visit some other places before lovingly locking anyone into this venture. The only con I see at Lawrence's home is that it may be hard to have a sit down dinner for 180 people (our flexible projected number of guests), since the pool is central to the back yard and the interior is filled with precious things. I would feel responsible for even a slight dimple in his world - it would be terrifying to have anything happen to anything in that home. So, that is a second con. Food for thought, but I went home feeling increased love for humans.
*this is not Mr. X's house:
