"History is not a random sequence of unrelated events. Everything affects and is affected by everything else. This is never clear in the present. Only time can sort out events. It is then in perspective that patterns emerge." - William Manchester

Patterns:

A man, about 55, walks into a restaurant. He's wearing a topcoat, a suit and a tie; he goes to the bar and orders a beer.

He's on his way out of the restaurant when he stops and asks the hostess, a young woman of 21, if Leeanne is working today. The hostess says she's new and doesn't know, but she'll check. She walks over to her manager, then returns and tells the man that Leeanne has moved to Florida.

"I wish I were in Florida, too," the hostess adds.

The man looks her up and down - she's wearing black heels, black nylons, a black skirt, white blouse and black blazer.

Then he says, "A little number like you could do well with the older guys in Florida. All you'd have to do is take your panties off."

The hostess is stunned. But all she can do is glare.

"Hey! Don't get offended," he says. "I'm just tellin' ya the truth."

He looks her up and down again, then walks out.

The hostess is my daughter. She tells me this story long-distance from school.