Hi Ahoy, isn't it odd to try to make small talk with the elephant in the room? But then at the same time you don't really want to discuss the elephant at dinner anyway!
I hope asking you for a favor wasn't his reason to take you to dinner, but with these crazy WAS you just never know what they are thinking or doing. And the self-absorbed thing is also such a huge part of their crisis I think. They can only think and talk about me memememeeeeeee. Well, it has also been a problem of mine lately but at least I tell my friends and family that I am aware of how self-obsessed I have become.
It's great that you were able to remain calm and confident at dinner, that's the most important thing in this marathon.
And kudos to you for all the long term friends. It really is a lovely thing to have that.
