My 45th Wedding Anniversary

Now I had to readjust my plan as the ball game had changed. Jerry had inadvertently become part of my romantic weekend.  It really did not take much thought before we set-up Jerry in the comfortable back bedroom of our home. He still insisted on sleeping on the floor. Arguing about it seemed fruitless and just maybe this was some sort of Ukrainian thing that had to do with respect. I felt good about what we were doing and now the bride and I started our drive back to Armonk into the impending storm. It was Saturday and tomorrow was the big day. The only thing I had to change was our dinner plans and I still had the roses, the Chardonnay and the romantic card hidden in the trunk of the car. We were heading back to Armonk some100 milesaway and driving into what was supposed to be a severe winter storm. I thought to myself, when did we ever have a severe winter storm in October? Considering the forecast I didn’t feel very comfortable driving the ultimate driving machine, a two wheel rear drive car especially while my 4 wheel drive pick-em-up truck was sitting snowbound in Armonk.

Needless to say we made it to within a mile of our house when the car just would not go any further in the snow.  Things were so bad that the local roads and the two interstates were closed. Both of our driveway entrances were covered with twelve, or more, inches of wet snow and blocked by fallen trees. A local gas station towed our car to their garage.Long Islandmissed the storm entirely.

So here I sit on the morning of my 45th anniversaries while the roses wine and my card are in the trunk of the ultimate at some gas station.  Being barricaded by downed trees with no; TV, phone, computer, water or lights sort of gives me the feeling that I’m living back in the days of Pytheas. It also gives me plenty of time to think about what it would have been like to spend the weekend at our getaway overlookingShinnecockBay.

I have traveled to The Hamptons fifty years and I know what makes it exceptional and distinct. It’s a magnetism described and named by the Greek navigator Pytheas. It’s called theAtlantic Ocean. The east end fork’s reminds me of the majestic arms of a statue stretching out into the ocean while constantly making a statement as to theirIndependence, autonomy and uniqueness. That is why I live seven months of the year out east.

I just had a passing thought, no, more accurately it was more of a momentary subliminal image. I could picture Jerry onLong Islandsitting in front of a roaring fire eating clam chowder and looking out over the bay while watching our45 inchflat screen TV. Down deep I wish him the best and I’m glad we were able to do what we did.                             RICH

The epilogue 6/23//2012— While I was inFloridathis January Jerry returned to theUkraine. The legacy he left behind may be the many pictures, portraits, murals and works of art that remain in theUSA. He impressed me as the most decent human being I have ever met. Just about every time I start to lose faith in the human race someone like Jerry comes along and blows away the smoke screen of doubt that was starting to engulf me.  I’m really gonna miss him.  Rich