THOSE WERE THE DAYS
I’m writing this story because a pal of mine had recently written one about misplacing his laptop. When I read his article, it reminded me of one of my memories of forgetfulness that, like his, worked itself out.
Many years ago, I had the best job I ever had in my life. I ran the northeast sales and marketing for a carpet cushion manufacturer. At the time of this story, I was twenty-nine years of age and really at the top of my game. I was known as the prodigy of the industry and as being a real New York hotshot.
My office was located at 53rd and 3rd and occupied an entire corner of the 11th floor of the Tieschman building. I was blessed with a lavish expense account, and I was responsible for administering large amounts of advertising and promotional funds. Everything I did was first class, including maintaining a full-time suite in the Delmonico’s at 59th and Park.
I lived two lives. One at my home in Huntington on weekends and one in the city or wherever I traveled during the week. While in the city, I frequented the best restaurants in town and was well known at several of them. I really played the role and loved it. I often would have dinner parties for over ten, followed by an evening at the theater. I dressed very well and had a fabulous wardrobe, most of which came from Barney’s or Richlands. Nothing but the best for me.
One night I left my office early and decided to go home to the Delmonico to call it an early evening. Rather than take the usual cab ride, I thought I would enjoy a nice walk to my second home on 59th street. It was rush hour, and the weather was beautiful. I strolled up 53rd and went down 56th until I came to the Lombardy Hotel, where I stopped for a quick drink at the Laurant Bar. After my Remi, I left for home. When I reached Park Ave. I made a left up towards 59th. At the corner was a shoe store, and I stopped to look in the window. That’s when I spotted the BEAUTIFUL FLAMINGO out of the corner of my eye. Yup, there she was in the flesh. What a beautiful woman she was. I was immediately taken. Weak knees, missing heartbeat, and all.
My attention quickly changed from shoes to the thought of seducing the magnificent creature. There I was, Mr. NY, Diamond Jim, with an opportunity of a lifetime and all of the confidence and boldness in the world and with a free night to boot. I decided to start a conversation.
I moved over to her while examining the widow display and commented on some of the styles in the window. We spoke for a bit, and one thing led to another, so I introduced myself and told her I worked in the city and was on my way to my hotel when the store window caught my eye. She told me she was new to NY from Pittsburgh and had just completed her second day working at a small production studio nearby, and she was on her way home, and she too decided to walk rather than take a cab. I suggest we have a drink at the Laurant and she agreed. The trap was being masterfully set. I remembered thinking how cool and smooth I was.
We were having a nice time at the bar, and aside from her obvious attractiveness, I found her to be very engaging. A total package and worthy of further pursuit. I asked her if she would like to have dinner, and she accepted.
We left Lombardy and walked around the corner to Michael’s Pub in my office building. I didn’t require reservations since I was a regular and good friend of the owner. When we arrived, we were greeted by Gil and escorted to one of the best tables in the house. Very close to the stage. It was one of the nights when Woody Allen was playing clarinet in the band. It doesn't get better than that for making a super first impression.
We had a marvelous dinner from soup to nuts, and it was getting late. We left Michaels and took a cab to her apartment on 73rd st. The entire street was composed of brownstones that all looked alike. I thought to myself, old NY. How charming. When we arrived at her building, she asked if I would like to come in for a nightcap. I willingly accepted the invitation.
The FLAMINGO had set up the house very well in just a couple of days, and I was pleasantly impressed. The entire evening had been something out of a book about romance in New York City. You would have thought I was George Peppard or someone. Everything fell in place. The stars had to be in perfect alignment. Needless to say, we enjoyed each other's company, and one thing led to another.
I woke up at about four-thirty and decided to go back to the Delmonico. So I quietly left the bed and used the bathroom, and got dressed. I was going to wake her, but I didn’t have the heart to wake this beautiful creature, and I thought it would be very cool to disappear only to send roses in the morning. So I quietly opened the door and left her apartment.
As I walked down the street toward the corner to catch a cab, I reached for my wallet and found it was missing. Where was it? I turned around to go back to her apartment, and damn, I didn’t know which brownstone she lived in. I didn’t have her number, her address, nothing but a great memory of a fabulous evening. It was five in the morning, and I wasn’t about to go from brownstone to brownstone, waking up the world. There was nothing I could do. All was lost. The word devastation was mild to fit my frame of mind. I walked back to the Delmonicos broken-hearted and lost. So much for Mr NY big shot. How humbling. A rookie.
About three weeks passed, and I found myself in the G. Fox department store in Hartford. Conn. Waiting for my turn in the buyer’s waiting room, I used a payphone to call my office. There was a message for me from the Pittsburgh FLAMINGO. I immediately returned her call. She told me that she was upset that I seemed to have snuck out and never contacted her again. I asked her how she tracked me down and told her my story. She thought my tale was hysterical similar to a Peter Sellers type of movie. Then she told me that she had found my wallet behind a cushion on her sofa and found my information there.
We met a few days later for dinner at Michaels Pub, and we had a terrific relationship for several months until the fateful day a new PRETTY FLAMINGO entered my life. All was not lost.
