Living in London and being a member of the British Library, the English Speaking Union, the Royal Academy and the Victoria & Albert Museum means that she has lots of things to do when the weather is dire or when they have something fun / interesting to watch or listen to.
On Wednesday off she went to the V&A to listen to a talk being given by Stan Smith.
No, she isn't dotty because he isn't just a name that Addidas puts on a white leather shoe, for those of a certain age, he is the young American who won the 1972 Wimbledon singles title and lots of other titles as well.
He's the man who married the first woman to wear a white sweater with the orange P, the P stands for Princeton. Margory Gengler was a phenomenal tennis player who swapped tennis for marrying Stan and having their four children.
When she saw the talk advertised in the Autumn programme of the V&A, memories flooded into her mind, memories of Andalucia in the '70s.
I have written before about her friend, his name was Lee Setomer. Lee had been a civil engineer who settled in the very early '50s in southern Spain buying a vast acreage of land to the back of Torremolinos.
His hospitality was legendary and there were always people staying and coming and going.
And that is where she met this couple, they were engaged to be married, Margy gave her parents' address in Locust Valley but time moves on and she never did call or write to get in contact with her.
And forty five years later.. they were going to be here in London at the V&A and he was going to talk about 'How people think I'm a shoe'.
She was early and first in line, behind her came a couple who introduced themselves, they were brother and sister, her name was Charlotte and his was John Beddington,.
When she asked them if they knew the Smiths, he smiled and said he had played tennis with Stan two weeks ago and when he asked her if she knew the Smiths she laughed and said "this will be the first time I've seen them in 45 years" and told them about meeting them all those years ago.
They were let into the museum and guided to the lecture hall, suddenly Margy was there and greeted the couple with whom she was walking and John said "And here is someone whom you haven't seen for a very long time.."
And my mama shook her hand and said "Andalucia, the summer of 1973, Louise, your mother and you were staying with a friend of mine".. and Margy smiled and said "Yes, indeed we were, with Lee Setomer".
The lecture hall was packed.. full to the brim.. of all different ages, to listen to a man talk of his life. A man who has led a 'good' life. A man who has never disgraced his family.
She left the lecture hall and smiled as she walked home. How very pleasant to hear a talk of good and happy things that people have done with their families and for other people, for there are tennis players whose lives are train wrecks and whose behavior on and off the court leaves a great deal to be desired.
So, take our word for it.. Stan Smith ain't just a shoe.
GeeGee Parrot.
September 21st, 2018.
On Wednesday off she went to the V&A to listen to a talk being given by Stan Smith.
No, she isn't dotty because he isn't just a name that Addidas puts on a white leather shoe, for those of a certain age, he is the young American who won the 1972 Wimbledon singles title and lots of other titles as well.
He's the man who married the first woman to wear a white sweater with the orange P, the P stands for Princeton. Margory Gengler was a phenomenal tennis player who swapped tennis for marrying Stan and having their four children.
When she saw the talk advertised in the Autumn programme of the V&A, memories flooded into her mind, memories of Andalucia in the '70s.
I have written before about her friend, his name was Lee Setomer. Lee had been a civil engineer who settled in the very early '50s in southern Spain buying a vast acreage of land to the back of Torremolinos.
His hospitality was legendary and there were always people staying and coming and going.
And that is where she met this couple, they were engaged to be married, Margy gave her parents' address in Locust Valley but time moves on and she never did call or write to get in contact with her.
And forty five years later.. they were going to be here in London at the V&A and he was going to talk about 'How people think I'm a shoe'.
She was early and first in line, behind her came a couple who introduced themselves, they were brother and sister, her name was Charlotte and his was John Beddington,.
When she asked them if they knew the Smiths, he smiled and said he had played tennis with Stan two weeks ago and when he asked her if she knew the Smiths she laughed and said "this will be the first time I've seen them in 45 years" and told them about meeting them all those years ago.
They were let into the museum and guided to the lecture hall, suddenly Margy was there and greeted the couple with whom she was walking and John said "And here is someone whom you haven't seen for a very long time.."
And my mama shook her hand and said "Andalucia, the summer of 1973, Louise, your mother and you were staying with a friend of mine".. and Margy smiled and said "Yes, indeed we were, with Lee Setomer".
The lecture hall was packed.. full to the brim.. of all different ages, to listen to a man talk of his life. A man who has led a 'good' life. A man who has never disgraced his family.
She left the lecture hall and smiled as she walked home. How very pleasant to hear a talk of good and happy things that people have done with their families and for other people, for there are tennis players whose lives are train wrecks and whose behavior on and off the court leaves a great deal to be desired.
So, take our word for it.. Stan Smith ain't just a shoe.
GeeGee Parrot.
September 21st, 2018.
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