The NYT crosswod this morning was a real slog. How I got through it, I don’t know. The theme was a total mystery to me, which meant I couldn’t rely on six of the horizontal lines and had to solve it relying on the “down” clues. If you are thinking about starting to do the Times Sunday puzzle today…..don’t. Wait until next week.

The small amount of rain that fell last night did not get in the way of Don and Gail Kohn’s 60th annivesary party at their waterfront home outside of Annapolis.

Music by Elixir, led by Nils Fredland, son of college roommate Eric Fredland. Of course, Eric had help from Wendy. Actually, four of us college roommates were there last night…besides Eric and me, Doug Frame was there (about to take off for his annual four months in Nova Scotia) and Bob (and Nona, of course) Nicholson.

The post-shower sky was beautiful, and we left early enough to get back on Highway 50 before dark.

I thought we had a quiet at home day today, but it turns out we have 2 p.m. theater tickets. And tonight, it’s off to Congregation Har Shalom or an evening of Broadway show tunes, sung by Michelle Hessel and others. 7 p.m. Y’all come.

I have as usual been reading books no one else reads. Now, it is the autobiography of Mark Van Doren, long time Columbia University professor and literary critic and editor. He was also the father of  Charles van Doren. Those of us 80 or older remember when Charles, who won the equivalent of well over $1 million on the NBC quiz show, Twenty-One, admitted he had been given all the answers in advance.

Mark was born in Hope, Illinois in the late 1890’s. Don’t know where Hope is? It was a stop on the railroad, right between Faith and Charity. Faith and Charity, by the way, are gone. Hope lingers on, but is hanging by a thread. Its current population is (drum roll!) …. 18.

Van Doren’s book is a pleasant read, mentions many New York intellectuals of the first half of the 20th century, especially those who were connected to Columbia, orvwho contributed to The Nation when van Doren was its literary editor.

I am not mentioning Donald Trump today. Not even thinking about Donald Trump today. Donald Trump is the furthest thing from my mind.

The highlight of next week will be Tuesday’s Maine primary. Both Graham Platner and Janet Mills will be on the Democratic ballot. It will be interesting to see how many Democrats now decide to vote for Governor Mills, who suspended her candidacy weeks ago. And even if Platner wins, which he probably will, on Tuesday, the question of who will be on the November ballot may still be open.