| My agent, Nancy Ellis, a Californian, is in New York | | | | driver bowed slightly to my guests. |
| pitching my second novel. I learned also today that a | | | | Ensconced in the luxury of the limo, I caught Neville' s |
| friend had moved to New York to take over a public | | | | eye in the rearview mirror. "Neville, would you confirm |
| relations firm. The combination of these two | | | | our reservations with Tre Scalini." He nodded, picked |
| migrations sent me reeling back through my New | | | | up the phone, and instead, quietly called to get |
| York memories. | | | | directions to Tre Scalini. |
| A couple of decades ago I was in New York for a | | | | "Tre Scalini! That's one of my favorite restaurants," |
| dinner meeting with the Food and Beverage Director | | | | exclaimed my guest's wife. He had the questioning |
| of a potential airline client for my airline catering | | | | look of a man wondering when we had discussed |
| business. I finished dressing early and picked up a | | | | favorite New York restaurants. |
| "what's happening in NY" kind of magazine in the | | | | Exiting the limo, I hung back from my guests. "Neville, |
| room. A piece on cozy little New York bars talked | | | | I'm a poor man, what is this costing me?" |
| about Chumley's 86 in Greenwich Village. The writer | | | | "Tell you what. I'll go cruise for some more rides and |
| pointed out Chumley's was called the "no name bar" | | | | come back about 10:45 to pick you up." He grinned |
| because it didn't have an exterior sign - a holdover | | | | that big Caribbean grin. "I'll just charge you $125.00 |
| from it's speakeasy days. Still with time to spare, I | | | | for the whole evening." |
| went downstairs and out on the sidewalk to "New | | | | "Done." |
| York up," so to speak. | | | | After a gastronomic extravaganza and an expense |
| Note: There's no time here to philosophize about the | | | | account debacle, we were once again enjoying the |
| love/hate New York syndrome that bothers both | | | | limo life. "It seems early. How about having a drink at |
| New Yorkers and outlanders. I've just never bought | | | | Chumley's 86 down in the village." I nodded to Neville |
| into all that "if you can make it here, you can make | | | | who instantly grabbed up the phone, asking for |
| anywhere" New York stuff. | | | | directions in hushed tones. |
| I stepped into a cool, clear January, Manhattan | | | | "Chumley's 86?" My guest and his wife looked at |
| evening. Standing toes-to-curb, I was captivated by a | | | | each other and shrugged. |
| city sparkling as gloriously as its post cards. A man | | | | "Yeah. It's a cozy little place with a fireplace. Kind of |
| like myself, standing curbside in an out-of-style | | | | interesting, really. It's called the No Name Bar because |
| overcoat, looking up at the buildings is a beacon to | | | | they have no street sign - a holdover from it's |
| any alert New Yorker. I barely noticed the approach | | | | speakeasy days." |
| of the battleship class limousine. Purring noiselessly, it | | | | Now they looked at each other with that "how does |
| docked curbside with the driver's window squarely | | | | he know so much about New York" look. |
| abeam. | | | | When we later closed Chumley's, our table had |
| "Need a lift, sir?" asked the driver in full dress | | | | grown to include my two guests, Neville, three |
| chauffeur's uniform. | | | | ex-Bostonite young lion investment bankers who |
| Under normal circumstances I would answer in one | | | | complained from the next table that there were no |
| word, but the enormity of this situation was too | | | | girls in New York, and the six lovely young ladies I |
| much for an outlander. "Well, I didn't set out to get a | | | | had invited to join us, proving there actually are girls |
| limo." I said with as much poise as I could muster. | | | | women in New York. |
| "Be glad to take you anywhere." The accent was | | | | Did I get the contract? Of course. So what's so |
| Caribbean, the smile genuine. | | | | tough about New York? |
| "You're kidding of course," I replied, "limos don't cruise | | | | Epilogue |
| for rides -- do they?" | | | | Neville it turned out was a wonderful person and a |
| "Sure do," the smile was infectious. | | | | down home philosopher of some note. I always |
| "Most cities require 24 hour notice for a limo to keep | | | | looked him up on subsequent New York Trips. On |
| them from competing with cabs." | | | | one occasion I was seated with Neville and two |
| "City likes us to cruise during rush hours - not enough | | | | Texas friends at the front window table of a small |
| cabs, ya know." I doubted it was true, but that's ok. | | | | deli. The sidewalk was packed with people hurrying in |
| At that moment my guests walked up behind me, | | | | both directions. |
| "Well, are you ready for a big night, Bill?" | | | | I pointed out at the crowded sidewalk. "Neville, look |
| "Sure thing, hop in." I smiled and gestured toward the | | | | at all those people. Why don't they get out of here, |
| limo. They froze in there tracks. It was oneupmanship | | | | go somewhere, and get a life?" |
| of prodigious proportions. The driver was already | | | | He leaned back, looking at the ceiling. "New York is a |
| opening the door to a cavernous luxury seldom | | | | pretty easy place to be. You can always make |
| afforded the common taxi rider. | | | | somethin' off a somebody." He paused for a |
| "You're kidding, right?" | | | | moment. "Actually, New York is like a giant University. |
| "Not at all." I smiled. "I'd like you to meet my driver . . | | | | Folks come here and learn stuff, then they get on |
| ." | | | | back to where they come from. But they gotta be |
| "Your driver? | | | | careful, 'cause New York'll getcha if ya don't watch |
| "Of Course." | | | | out." |
| "Neville. Neville Comma, sir." Flawless timing as the | | | | I guess that about sums it up. |