This year there was a half page of love notes in the
“Washington Post”. You probably don’t know how important a “love note” was and
is, because people only express their feelings electronically or using someone
else’s words in a card. But starting in the 80’s, on Valentines Day, people
would write love notes to their beloveds and post them on a special page in the
Wash Post. Over the years, the number of notes posted on Valentine’s Day grew,
until there was an entire section (4 or 5 pages),of the paper dedicated to
them. But, and I think unfortunately, as a consequence of the popularity of
electronic communication, yesterday, it had dwindled to half a page.
There was a time when I loved that holiday, and then, things
happened and it was no longer on my top ten, until sometimes in the 70’s when
we started to have a girlfriend lunch with Michael Berman. When it started there were about five
of us. Just a small group of political friends wanting to
celebrate a holiday that commemorates Love and Relationships.
The luncheon continued to grow. None of us remember how fast, or how it happened but first
we were five and then we were 120. You might think that the number of people
make the celebration less important, but not true. It is a great leveler. The most important women in
Washington, media, politics, PR, lobbying, are all there. (Even Hillary stopped
by.) It is the one time a
year that women friends have a chance to get together socially and don’t worry
about business. Or it is an opportunity to do business with friends. Or it is just a time to catch up. Since I am not part of that
conversation anymore, it is just a great way to bond with people who I have
known for years and years, and never get to see anymore.
What a great many people do not understand is that Michael
is more than a lobbyist and strategic communication expert, as well the person
who hosts the best party in Washington.
Many of my closest female friends, who have not ever been there, think
it is the most important ticket in the city. He is a very generous, incredibly smart guy, who mentors, not only young women, but
Senior government people looking to take the next step in their lives. We have
been good friends for more than thirty years. I am no longer an important Washington character, but I get
my invite every year. The women
who go to the luncheon all think they have a special place in his life, and
they do, because he has made such a difference for them in their careers. Of
course, his wife says, “All of you can stand in line, I married him.” And she
is a truly wonderful addition to his life and, of course, the luncheon.
It’s a special day for me. It is a lovely expression of love in a town where
connections, not love, is the key to success. Last year I was traveling and couldn’t make it and I was
upset beyond words. I love to go
because it is a reminder of who I was, and what I have become. Both of which
are just fine. Michael has always been a friend, a mentor and a gift. He liked
the “love note” David posted in
the paper, never get too old to be important or meaningful. They are both a wonderful expression of
love. We’re just sayin’… Iris
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