introduced to their cook, a diminutive dark-skinned sweet-faced woman. The food was laid out on the granite island, and James went right up to carve the baked chickens, asking us whether we liked light or dark meat. The twins handed out plates and were bustling about getting drinks for everyone, including their unexpected guests. Side dishes included golden potato wedges and delicious roasted fresh vegetables lightly brushed with seasoned oil. I remembered reading once how Jane had taught her kids to love eating veggies. A quick glance confirmed they had each taken a generous helping.

We all sat down to an intimate and lively meal. Around the table were John and Kris in the middle, their nanny, Susan, Jim and me and James at the head. These ten-year-olds are very bright and mature; they don’t exhibit the discomfort around adults that many this age do. Between them, there is a playful camaraderie--but not silliness. They chide each other with gentleness and obvious affection, not with snide sarcasm and putdowns as is so common among siblings. They genuinely like each other and they act like best friends--more than brothers. Kris is the shyer of the two, but joined in the conversation easily and comfortably, showing his wit and savvy observations.

What was most touching was seeing how the boys and their father interact. James is such a mellow guy, and so kindly. The topics of conversation covered all manner of things, including James explaining to the boys what cancer is. They listen attentively to his words, injecting a response here and there, and the spirit around the table is relaxed, loving and warm.
Jo with the Golden Globe by the SIT Poster. Right: James holds his Best Musical/Comedy Award by the Walk the Line Poster.
That year, it had come out on DVD as a 10 year Anniversary edition, and I bought one for us and one for the twins, whom I figured had probably not ever seen it, considering their age. I was astonished to find in my mailbox, not more than 9 days later, two handmade thank you cards from each of the twins! Not only was I very touched by this, but it struck me as a sign of wonderful breeding. These celebrity kids are not ‘spoiled,’ on the contrary, are genuinely sweet, ebullient and polite. We met their nanny, a very pretty blond young woman, and Susan urged us to go in for dinner.

The kitchen is a large and spacious room, with a generous cooking/prep area, gigantic dining table in the middle, and a cozy seating area by a stone fireplace at the other end. We were
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