Christmas 1990
[orig. was typed on Adler, then copied on Xerox 5090
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… It started off very early (like 3 a.m. PST) on October 22, when a taxi took us to San Jose International Airport where we boarded our flight to Chicago. I had no idea what our destination was after Chicago! And I didn’t find out ’til the pilot announced that there was a bit of bad weather coming into the Hartford/Springfield Airport. Sure enough, it was a rocky ride through a big rainstorm, but it was a real treat for me, not having seen a good rain storm for four years! California has had a drought for a long time, so this was God’s gift to me. Thank you, God!
Waiting at the gate to meet us were Tom and Fay Gieschi, my two best friends from my Boston days. Fay used to come faithfully to my performances with the Boston Opera Group … it was always Fay who was my lifeline to the real world. And I loved stepping into her beautifully decorated apartment and later her home. Neither she nor Tom had changed at all, except for the better. They took us immediately to their favorite restaurant, “The Student Prince,” where Oktoberfest was in full swing. We were all talking at once trying to get caught up on 22 years of separation.
After a real German feast (hasenpfeffer, etc.), we drove to their magnificent home where I proceeded to take mental notes of all the flavorful decorating Fay had done. It was like going back to my Boston days and going back in time. Although I should have been tired, I couldn’t sleep because I was enjoying the rain storm bating on the window, and the sound of “frying” that tires make on a really wet road. The bed was so comfy and warm that I should have fallen asleep immediately but, Hell, I can sleep next week! I wanted to savor every minute of my Boston past.
Besides being a great decorator, Fay (and Tom) are excellent gourmet cooks. I’m still using the Hungarian Beef Goulash recipe Tom gave me years ago! After a tour of the house and grounds, Tom fixed us a real Italian lunch of great cheese and salamis that I haven’t tasted since I moved West. All this was topped off by cannolis (authentic) and some terrific espresso! The time went so fast that we had to hustle to get to the airport, but we managed to have a few minutes before our next flight.
During the last few minutes, I wondered out loud to Fay where this little commuter plane would be heading. There was no destination on the board. She asked me where I would like to go if I had my “druthers,” and I told her I’d like to go back to Rochester, where I’d spent a good deal of my early years, and, perhaps, get a chance to see my brother, Tav, and his wife, Mary and her Mom, Viola, AND their new little doggy, Lizzie, and their house in Bethlehem, PA., and, with a lot of luck, Tav’s Barn. It seems everybody has been there except me! Fay didn’t even put a twinkle in her eye to betray Richard’s next surprise for me. So we said our goodbyes, and when we walked out on the apron, the pilot announced we’d be flying to Rochester!