I went to dinner tonight at the New Bedford Yacht Club. Loring and Joanna are members, so they invited me along. Loring stood near the table, in anticipation. He had explained before we arrived how Earl the bartender had served him his first drink way back when he was that age, some 30 years ago. He greeted Earl when we came in.

Well, there was a bit of a commotion, Earl called something out from behind the bar, and everyone stood and faced the flag, as the colors were lowered and a cannon went off at the moment of sunset. Once the ceremony was done everyone said "Thank you Earl" and resumed their dinners.

It was quite a ceremony, and Loring, always with a story told me about Earl serving them Oysters on Chappaquidick way back when. It seems Earl might be retiring, he was a nice elderly man, the type that would manage to know everyone, and keep all the names straight.

We went on to have a very nice dinner, swordfish. The walls had photos of old yachts racing, and the trophy case downstairs had plenty of awards. We wandered the docks after dinner, as Loring is looking for the perfect dingy for his new Formula, "Greylag"

The yacht club was an intersting place to have dinner, I enjoyed the evening.