Class dinner

Can I just say that I love the ease with which planning falls into place here?  Sunday at about 2:00 I checked my class's Facebook page to find that one of my friends had posted, "Filippo and I thought that a class dinner tonight my be fun.  Who's coming?"  It didn't take long for the responses-- "I won't eat anything since I'm going to something beforehand, but I'm coming", "Sorry. in Perugia", "YES!"
It took me a little while to figure out whether I could make it work-- what with sweet-talking my mother and all-- but at seven it was decided that I could go.  Remember, dinner doesn't usually start until 8:00 or 8:30, so I sent a quick message saying that I would be there. "Great! We'll see you at 8:15!"
Since the restaurant is just down the street (and one of my favorites), I left our house at 8:13.  I arrived to find a group of my classmate milling around outside the door and was warmly greeted.  After another ten minutes or so we went in-- Filippo had made reservations, but the waitresses all knew who were were anyway.  A few more classmates came in. I have to take a minute to point out that although most of us don't drive (you have to be 18 for a car), we all we able to get there independently.  As in, "Mom, may I go out to dinner tonight? Thanks-- see you in a bit!"

(NOTE from Alexandra -- Eleanor never finished this, but I thought you'd enjoy...)