| It was Saturday night, and time for the fancy dinner and celebration. Julia wore a fancy dress, but even though I'd brought one, I opted for my usual dress: |
| The dining area was huge. Each round table was covered with a black tablecloth, then a thin black tablecloth over it that featured many golden stars. The omnivore meal featured salmon and steak, along with noodles. The vegetarian meal was a spicy dish with wild rice, beans, red pepper and other things. After we consumed our meals, a speaker invited people to take pictures: |
What special artifact has got everyone so pictorially enthusized?
CAKE!
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But it is no ordinary cake, as the Mensa logo is there, along with the dates 1946-2006. They played a nice movie explaining Mensa's beginnings, as well as having the original founders come to the podium to receive applause, and of course, to be photographed. As Julia entered sometime in the seventies, she didn't know any of those people, so I didn't join the photographers' horde this time. But it was interesting to learn the history. Mensa was founded in England in 1946 by Roland Berrill, a barrister, and Dr. Lance Ware, a scientist and lawyer. The first American branch was in New York City. Afterwards, knowing this would be the last time I'd see the convention center lobby at night, I tried to get a picture of the stars in front of the arched doors: |
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| Yes, quite a feeling of celebration was in order: |
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