I was away for a week, on an errand of mercy, serving as grief counsellor for a dear friend who has lost his dog. I wrote about it a few days ago ("pain".) He needed company to go to Cleveland on business and couldn't bear to travel alone. It was hard on me for several reasons, chief being that I relived my own grief when my husband died. I dredged up feelings and memories I had buried. One does, after all, develop scar tissue that forms over the wound. Not to dwell on it now. But, hey! what a lovely city Cleveland is! It has grand public buildings; Western Reserve University has a generous, lovely campus; The Cleveland art Museum (with a new atrium and layout) is delightful; the main library is gracious; the Terminal building is a genuine and attractive landmark and I went crazy in a huge, gorgeous, used book store. It was a privilege to discover such a delightful, genuine, American city. The Cleveland Symphony (I knew it already as one of the best in the country) the theatre (lots of them) were both dark, so I'll have to go back. Also, I want to see the new Museum of Modern Art. These are not Band-Aids; they are all salutary sources of comfort. I am so grateful.