Every year, Joy and I have the unmerited privilege and high honor to spend an evening with a beloved friend, who hosts an annual Christmas dinner party at her home, complete with hors dâoeuvres, a four-course meal served to us at table by wonderful people, live piano music, lovely conversation, and singing to round out the evening. It is an event that gathers people who donât get to see each other often or spend much time together. In fact, even in this small town, it is the only night of the year when I get to see and talk to most of them.