This morning I had coffee with The Film Director’s Wife. I chose a skirt and sweater set specifically to meet her at the fanciest coffee place we could think of between our two houses. To my delight, she had chosen a skirt and sweater ensemble, too.

Within minutes we confessed that we were wearing skirts because the past week had provided us with time to, finally, shave our legs. Three hours later when most but not all topics had been covered, and we could have gone on for three more except for the holiday packing and projects beckoning us home, we gave each other a few hugs goodbye.

What I have to say about it is this. If you can squeeze in some time this holiday season between baking cookies for the office so that you don’t have to shell out much cash on the people you’re not fond of and managing the tension of seeing all of the relatives that you love but don’t actually like, try to set a date with a girlfriend to wear sweater sets and drink over-priced coffee. The result, for me, has been a sense of giddy holiday happiness the likes of which so little else brings. The hills of Los Angeles are so surprisingly full of snow, and I face unafraid the plans that I’ve made, walking through a Christmas packing wonderland. Happy Holidays!