In the Beginning

You ask how your grandmother and I met. Well, grab a chair and gather around.

The story begins one beautiful day. Sunday, in fact, long, long ago in the year 1945.


Back in those days, in New York City, the Madison Hotel featured a Sunday brunch...sometimes called a tea dance...very elegant. For reasons best known to them, your Grandfather Blakeley and Uncle Wow (Roy Dye) who were colleagues at Bankers Trust Company, thought it would be a swell idea to introduce daughter Noreen and step-son Jack. The Madison Brunch would be where this historic event occurred.

The Blakeleys had moved not long ago from Grosse Point, Michigan to Bronxville, NY. My home was Lancaster, Pa.

So on the appointed day, into my blue suit and in the company of Mimi and Wow, we taxied to the Madison Hotel. For my part, this was not done reluctantly, for at 16, I was well aware of girls. Having grown up with the Lancaster talent, at this point, they were all more like sisters.




On the other hand, your good looking, vivacious 15 year old Grandmother had just parachuted into Bronxville and had "taken the junior set by storm." So, as I learned later, she was not anxious to come into NYC to meet a boy from Pennsylvania Dutch country, but did so under severe threat from her parents.

To the beat of a "Lester Lanin" band, your Grandmother swept in. WOW! A good looking, New York girl. Actually, with my "pompadour" and credentials as Lawrenceville senior, I was not shy. We danced and talked.




Now kids, here comes the incredible part of Act 1 of this play.........A gypsy fortune teller came to the table, swished tea leaves in a cup and announced, "you two will get married some day".


Nervous giggles and a retreat to the dance floor, where I hoped to impress your Grandmother (a couple of years back I had won the tango contest at dancing class). It was during a slow fox trot that I popped the question, "will you come to the Lawrenceville Senior Prom with me". I've forgotten how long it took for the answer, by mail, I guess, "yes, if I can bring a friend".




She came and she did. As was the custom, the Seniors moved out of Upper and their dates moved into their rooms. Good time was had by all, dancing to Harry James, etc. The next day after saying our goodbyes, I returned to our suite, and quickly discovered that all the dresser drawers had been turned upside down, beds pied and perfume sloshed over everything. It took weeks for the air to clear.

For the next several years, we kept in touch with some mailed literary masterpieces and occasionally getting together. On one of these occasions, your Grandmother invited me to be one of her four attendants at her coming out party. It just so happened that New York suffered the largest snowstorm, perhaps in its history. But the party went on and your intrepid Grandfather made it from Lancaster. Those from nearby couldn't. So, I had her all to myself, and earned substantial brownie points.

Well, we're being called to lunch. If you want me to, I'll tell you more afterwards.

Next: The War and Marriage