[M.D. Holloway]

I went to a party tonight. We could not get a sitter (due to homecoming and our party animal friends) so Momma had to stay home while I ate and drank and tried to be charming. Now normally I would have stayed home as well but this party was rather strategic. Ya see, I am ghosting a book for a rather wealthy women and this was her birthday party. By contract and obligation, I am not at liberty to divulge her identity. It would not make a difference anyway. Its not like she is anyone famous outside of Dallas. Rich but not famous outside of Dallas is about the best way to describe her. I think she wants to change that.

The food was great – catered with roaming servers. The bars were well stocked with top shelf hooch and beers the like I have not seen in a while. Harp! Who the heck drinks Harps in Tejas? Well apparently, this woman thought someone might. I was especially impressed with her wine bar – well stocked with reds and chilly whites but also 3 different ports, which the server seemed to know a 5 minute history for each. Okay, a little over the top but what the heck.

I mingled into her living room and struck up idle chit chat with a few guests. An interesting bunch, which I will get to, but what really struck me was the painting above her fireplace. The ceiling of the room must have been 25 feet. The painting was at least 18 feet tall by 10 feet wide. It was a side-view depiction of a man and women, nude. The women had her back to him. Both were looking to the heavens and with just a little imagination (and hopeful thinking), it appeared she was taking what he had to offer. I think the what the host liked most about the painting was that she 'commissioned it'.

The host saw me gawking at the work. “So what do you think?” She asked. “It’s very good. Real good. Is it getting hot in here or is it that painting?” I said. “I commissioned an artist from Canada to do it. I left it totally up to him as to what he was to do and this is what he decided on. I think it is grand.” The painting was very good. Not like a cheesy thing that you would buy in a hotel conference room but maybe something you would see at a local gallery. No canvas – done directly on the wall. Mostly charcoal with some mixed media. The bodies of the people were realistic and not that of a Harlequin Romance book cover. I can’t say I remember the man but the woman was very doable – which was spot on because she was getting done so to speak.

It did not occur to me until I met more people that this woman was starting a collection – or adding to it more likely. The folks that were there were from all over – literally and figuratively. I met a couple from Israel, a window washer from Dallas, musicians, artists, engineers, a lawyer, a shrink, a few people from South Africa and Italy as well as the Military, a few CEOs, several models, a gardener and several Dallas socialites that except for their plastic surgery were some of the most boring people I have come across in a long time - thank Gawd for botox, saline bags and fake tans. Such a diverse crowd. No real connection but one thing tied them together - the host. She visited with each - stroking egos as if an ol woman strokes the hair of her porcelain doll collection. Then it hit me...

This woman collects people! All sorts of people. I was now part of her collection. I came home to tell my wife my new position in life.



Note to self, never wake your wife to tell her you are now part of a rich women’s collection. It does not play well at home…