Belladonna & Kimberly Kane's 'Winter Wonderland' Benefit @ Busbys East 12/05/09

It was the type of low-key Hollywood affair that helped me remember my love for Los Angeles. We met at the bar at 5 on a rainy afternoon, logs burned in the fireplace, parking was simple (L.A. has already started to empty for Christmas), and I demanded Belladonna and Kane drink Toasted Almonds because those are girly drinks that fill one with three kinds of alcohol and Christmas spirit.

Kristina Rose escorted Belladonna's sporting a moustache. While there was never a reason to not like Kristina Rose, she shot up 25 spots on my Favorite Porn Performers list that day. She walked into the Rainbow just daring anyone to mess with her. Joanna Angel, who is both the darling of Heeb Magazine and celebrating her birthday the same day as the Messiah, was the lone Chosen person at the table. She told us that the opening 7/8ths of Hanukkah weren't big present days while she was growing up.

Sasha Grey ordered clam chowder. The rest of us had ordered large pizzas, but Grey said that she’d had pizza earlier that day. I mention this not because it was noteworthy to either Grey or anyone else at the table but because I am sure at this point that there is a small network of people who are looking for insights into their own lives by following everything that Sasha Grey does.

Then there was Belladonna, who had nice things to say about everyone and who laughed at everyone’s jokes. She’s special. I think people are a little starstruck by Belladonna because she is so positive and kind. Rose had given Belladonna a corsage and the latter looked like a 40's blonde bombshell in the red Rainbow booth. I ducked out to put quarters in the meter and the busboys were whispering that Belladonna was in the restaurant. Then they gave me a dirty look. I was fleetingly grateful I hadn't valeted my car.

Kane was my official date, and she expressed sorrow that I did not have an iPhone to retweet everything that was happening.

Our pizzas arrived and we ate them solemnly, knowing that the next time we were all in the same room it would be in Las Vegas [for next week's Adult Entertainment Expo and AVN Awards], and I would be running around with a horse's head, Belladonna would be flanked by bodyguards, Sasha Grey would be enveloped by a ring of documentarians, Kane would be inaccessible in New Sensations' Sex Files stretch Hummer, Kristina Rose would probably have a full beard [as she donned a moustache for the dinner], and Angel would be immersed in her family's genealogical data to see just how we are related. As the rain fell outside, we thought of the Season 1 finale of "The Sopranos," where the family eats together in a candlelit restaurant. My eyes began to mist as I looked at the picture of Ronnie James Dio watching over five of our nation's most riveting porn stars.

Belladonna would be leaving for Fitchburg, MA the next day.

"Someday soon, you're going to have families of your own," Belladonna did not say. "And if you're lucky, you'll remember the little moments, like this, that were good."