Ol' Blue Eyes had it right when he sang “Fairy Tales Can Come True, They Can Happen to You, If You’re Young at Heart.” I was well into my 70s, living alone after a series of acrimonious divorces, content with being a hermit on my acreage on Round Mountain; the thought of another relationship would make me shudder. I would frequently be invited to various social functions and would invariably fabricate an excuse not to attend. I didn’t want to go alone. All of my friends were happily married and socializing with them made me feel like the world was a tuxedo and I was a pair brown shoes. My friends knew that I was making excuses. They would berate me and insist that I be with them and every once in awhile I would say yes.
I was introduced to Marion at a dinner party hosted by Brad and Pauline Nussbaum (Pauline prepares Chinese cuisine that is traditional, artistic and delicious). As I recall, we didn’t speak to each other after the introduction. I doubt that we made much of an impression on each other at the time. A few months later, Bill and Barbara Brown hosted a Mardi Gras party, costume optional. My dear friends Marty and Erin Pepus told me that I was going to go if they had to drag me. The costume I rented was the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I bought several cans of iridescent body paint and some sparkle material. I decided to drive to Marty’s house so he could spray my beard and help me get into my costume. I had a wand and a bag of sparkle material and I went to the party as The Wizard of the West. It was a grand affair. The house was decorated in typical New Orleans Mardi Gras style with streamers and trinkets. Everyone was in costume, well, not quite everyone. I went around the room, schmoozing, sampling the delicious food , sprinkling sparkle dust on people and offering them three wishes granted by me, The Wizard of the West. I noticed an elegant lady wearing slacks and a well filled sweater. I approached her, sprinkled her with some sparkle dust and said “Hello little girl. I’m the Wizard of the West, and I’ll give you three wishes. What would you like?” She looked up at me and said “I don’t need anything. Thank you.” Rather than let it go at that I said, "I understand you play bridge" and she said "Yes I do." I blabbered something like "Maybe we’ll meet across a bridge table." and walked away. I asked Marty who the iceberg was and he said, “Marion Nicoll, one of my neighbors” . The evening ended, I went home and never gave it another thought. I was sitting in my kitchen several weeks later when the phone rang. At that time in my life I refused to have an answering service or an answering machine. My friends and family were very upset with me but my attitude was 'if I want to answer the phone I will'. The Gods must have been smiling on me that day because I picked up the call. It was the best thing I ever did . A sweet voice on the other end said “Hi, This is Marion Nicoll, do you remember me?” I wasn’t too sure who it was but I wasn’t going to admit it so I said “Of course I remember you”. She told me she was giving a small dinner party for some of her friends and wanted to know if I would come. I remember saying to her that I usually refuse such invitations because I was single, to which he replied “Well I’m single too”. With that I thought hey, why not, so I accepted the invitation. I no sooner hung up the phone when I began to have second thoughts. I called my friend Marty Pepus who told me to stop being crazy, go and have a good time.
I labored with it for the next two weeks and the day of the event I decided to call and beg off, complaining of illness. I looked for her phone number but could not find it. I thought that she probably had an unlisted number so I gave up. The reality was that I did not know how to spell her name, Nicoll. I put the obligatory bottle of wine in a party bag and on the way, stopped to buy a rose to go with it. The evening was a delight. Food and drink was delicious and plenty, conversation sprightly and varied. I had a wonderful time and I left thanking her for her hospitality. Several weeks later I thought that I should do something to reciprocate the invitation. I had a voucher for dinner for two at the Gallatin River Lodge. I called Marion and asked her if she would help me to use it. She said yes and we met for dinner (not very gallant of me not to offer to pick her up but we lived 36 miles apart and I rationalized it). I got to the Lodge early, selected a table for two and put a long stem rose in the center. We had a lovely evening, the food was exceptional and having cocktails with her made it magical. After dinner we sat on the veranda, sipped a few more drinks and watched wildlife by the lake. It was early springtime and Montana nights were cool and colorful. I remember fondly, as we walked to our cars, I put my arm around her, said goodnight and we parted. That was the beginning of a warm, tender and loving relationship that continues to this day.
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I labored with it for the next two weeks and the day of the event I decided to call and beg off, complaining of illness. I looked for her phone number but could not find it. I thought that she probably had an unlisted number so I gave up. The reality was that I did not know how to spell her name, Nicoll. I put the obligatory bottle of wine in a party bag and on the way, stopped to buy a rose to go with it. The evening was a delight. Food and drink was delicious and plenty, conversation sprightly and varied. I had a wonderful time and I left thanking her for her hospitality. Several weeks later I thought that I should do something to reciprocate the invitation. I had a voucher for dinner for two at the Gallatin River Lodge. I called Marion and asked her if she would help me to use it. She said yes and we met for dinner (not very gallant of me not to offer to pick her up but we lived 36 miles apart and I rationalized it). I got to the Lodge early, selected a table for two and put a long stem rose in the center. We had a lovely evening, the food was exceptional and having cocktails with her made it magical. After dinner we sat on the veranda, sipped a few more drinks and watched wildlife by the lake. It was early springtime and Montana nights were cool and colorful. I remember fondly, as we walked to our cars, I put my arm around her, said goodnight and we parted. That was the beginning of a warm, tender and loving relationship that continues to this day.
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Marion
