This weekend I managed to actually find some time to spend with my friends in the Hamptons. Saturday night I headed out to East Hampton to Saracen’s restaurant for a birthday celebration for one of our friends. There’s always an eclectic mixture of bankers, writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers around, and this makes for a really interesting evening. I didn’t quite expect the wildly supportive reception my book received, mainly because my dear friend, Judy McDowell, was hyping it so much. I do believe she missed her calling — she could really make a very good used car saleswoman. Judy is one of the most colorful woman I know. She started the rollerskating craze back in the day and had the concession at Central Park. Frankie Vallee’s hit song, Can’t Take My Eyes off of You, was written for her!!! I keep telling her that she should write a book. One night last summer, as I sat watching a meteor shower with her, she bedazzled me with the impressive roster of celebrity men who have graced her side. Talk about stars and who’s who!
Anyway, as the dinner proceeded I was amused that the terminology used in my book was being thrown around the table — to hear Michael McDowell (Judy’s husband and a great artist) talking about Cellmates and Razor’s Edge Mates cracked me up. (And Michael contrary to what you say — you do know how to dance!)
Then Martin, who describes himself as a boring banker, who is anything but, jokingly took on the role of my partner in book sales. Those of you who already have a copy of Grant Me a Higher Love, know it’s a big book. Martin said, “We could make more money selling it by the pound!” He then started adding surcharges for my signing the book, etc., etc., etc. His entrepreneurial skills were evident that night, proving why he’s the banker and I’m not.
I was also honored to meet the filmmaker Robert Kane Pappas who generously gave me a copy of his movie, Orwell rolls in his grave. This documentary takes a hard look at the media and who controls what gets on the air and what doesn’t and why. It is a very enlightening and often frightening movie to watch.
So, if you haven’t had much time to talk with your friends, or spend time with the significant others in your life, make an effort to reconnect with them and have some fun and laughs in the process.