La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
While I was in New York, our great old friends, Daisy and Cesar, took the train down from Connecticut and we met at Grand Central Station before walking over to a nearby wonderful Italian restaurant. The food was perfection and artful. The conversation was non-stop. And the love was as strong as ever. We seriously miss these two, but when I see them now it’s like no time has passed. To me, that’s a true measure of friendship.
Cesar and San Geraldo both worked at Yale Libraries and that’s how we met. To give you an idea of what Daisy’s like, one day, a red-tailed hawk flew onto their screen porch, tearing right through the screen and knocking itself out. Without hesitation, Daisy picked up the hawk, carried it outside, and stayed with it until it flew off.
We rode to work in New Haven together on the commuter rail with two other people from Yale Libraries. A bus waited for us at the station to shuttle us around town. Daisy had a corporate job and I worked for Yale’s Computing and Information Services. They would all get off at the same stop, while I continued a bit longer. San Geraldo and I would wave good-bye and Cesar and Daisy would give each other a kiss before parting. This was the 1980s and SG and I were always aware that our kiss would be a political statement, and although we were very public about who we were, we didn’t like putting ourselves at risk to some lunatic hater. New Haven may have been the home of Yale University, but it still felt backward at that time. I wish I could have been braver at the time but maybe it was the right decision.
Daisy is a beauty. Cesar is similar in looks and deportment to my father, completely different otherwise. My mother had a major crush on him. After we parted company, I went for a walk around Grand Central Market. I’ve never bought anything there, but I love browsing.
Daisy has been an inspiration for our niece Lindy. Daisy even let me record one of her pat phrases so Lindy could practice. When they don’t agree on a story they’re telling, Daisy has been known to say to Cesar, “You lie like a rug!” But Lindy’s favorite is, “You lying hound!”
Mientras estaba en Nueva York, nuestros grandes amigos, Daisy y Cesar, tomaron el tren desde Connecticut y nos encontramos en la estación Grand Central antes de caminar hasta un maravilloso restaurante italiano cercano. La comida era perfecta y artística. La conversación fue ininterrumpida. Y el amor era tan fuerte como siempre. Realmente extrañamos a estos dos, pero cuando los veo ahora es como si no hubiera pasado el tiempo. Para mí, esa es una verdadera medida de amistad.
Cesar y San Geraldo trabajaban en las bibliotecas de Yale y así fue como nos conocimos. Para que te hagas una idea de cómo es Daisy, un día, un halcón voló sobre su porche cubierto (rompió la malla). Sin dudarlo, Daisy recogió al halcón, lo llevó afuera y se quedó con él hasta que se fue volando.
Viajamos juntos al trabajo en New Haven en el tren de cercanías con otras dos personas de las bibliotecas de Yale. Un autobús nos esperaba en la estación para llevarnos por la ciudad. Daisy tenía un trabajo corporativo y yo trabajaba para los Servicios de Informática e Información de Yale. Todos se bajaban en la misma parada, mientras que yo continuaba un poco más. San Geraldo y yo nos despedíamos con la mano y Cesar y Daisy se daban un beso antes de separarse. Era la década de 1980 y SG y yo siempre fuimos conscientes de que nuestro beso sería una declaración política, y aunque éramos muy públicos sobre quiénes éramos, no nos gustaba ponernos en riesgo ante algún lunático que nos odiara. New Haven puede haber sido la sede de la Universidad de Yale, pero todavía parecía atrasada en ese momento. Ojalá hubiera podido ser más dura en ese momento, pero tal vez fue la decisión correcta.
Daisy es una belleza. César es similar en apariencia y comportamiento a mi padre, completamente diferente en todo lo demás. Mi madre estaba loca por él. Después de que nos separamos, fui a dar una vuelta por el Grand Central Market. Nunca he comprado nada allí, pero me encanta curiosear.
Daisy ha sido una inspiración para nuestra sobrina Lindy. Daisy incluso me dejó grabar una de sus frases para que Lindy pudiera practicar. Cuando no se ponen de acuerdo sobre una historia que están contando, Daisy suele decirle a César: “¡Mientes como un trapo!” Pero la frase favorita de Lindy es: “¡Perro mentiroso!”
• Tenía tanto calor que me quité el suéter. Ojalá nos hubiéramos tomado la foto primero.
• Mi postre.
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I really enjoyed reading the story of your friendship with Daisy and Cesar. It reminded me of some of the great friends that I have had in my life, that I still have today. Thank you for that reminder. The dessert looks soooo good!
Michael:
Having moved so much, many of our friendships didn’t survive the distance. It was truly hard to leave Daisy and Cesar but the friendship never faltered. That dessert was as good as it looked.
Such an artfully presented dessert! There’s nothing like getting together with old friends, is there!
Debra:
The restaurant was phenomenal and everything was served artfully. Time with Daisy and Cesar is always uplifting.
Great friends and great food, what more could one ask for.
David:
Exactly.
I have yet to be at that market on trips to New York. And how funny would it have been if you all had the same sweater on! I think I even have the same cable knit sweater.
Mistress Borghese:
I used to have an Irish knit to match (not intentionally). But I was in my 20s and outgrew it.
Do Daisy and Cesar read and comment here? What a great looking couple 🙂 Friends are a treasure.
I enjoyed imagining you on your commute, on the commuter train 🙂
Judy C:
They always read. That was the most pleasant commute I ever had.
Boud here. What a great friendship, good food too, perfect. I think your caution back then was well placed. Better live to fight another day! It’s lovely that (mostly) now you wouldn’t need to be hyper alert.
Boud:
It’s truly a great friendship. We left Connecticut in 1993 and I still miss having them nearby.
Food and friends and conversation; those are perfect days.
Years back Carlos and I were at Disney in Florida and after the fireworks were making our way to the shuttle and back to our hotel; I took his hand as we walked along and suddenly a lesbian couple walked past, the two women holding hands as well.
From behind us a voice rang out:
“What is this? Gay Days at Disney.”
One of the women, without turning back yelled:
“For us EVERY day is Gay Day.”
And she was right.
Bob:
Every day IS Gay Day. Despite the asshole, that must have felt empowering.
Picking up the conversation from where we left off with friends is a sure sign of friendship………to be cherished.
Jim:
And we do cherish it.
And when we meet people and feel as if we have known them all our lives- another sure sign of deep connection.
I am enchanted with the giant cutlery at Grand Central Station but I think that Daisy and Cesar are even far more enchanting. When I was a kid, we said, “You lie like a dog.” Same/same although “hound” sounds a little classier.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
And Daisy says it like a chic New Yorker (which she is). Wouldn’t you love that giant cutlery displayed in your house?
Not sure there would be room in the house but can you imagine it hanging from a branch of one of the giant old oak trees? That would be very cool.
Sadly, even in this day and age you never know what will set someone off. That’s a beautiful dessert.
Kelly:
Thankfully, it’s different where we now live, but it still happens. The dessert was as good as it looked.
Love the story about the hawk. Surprised it would let your friend pick it up.
Kirk:
The poor bird was knocked senseless. But Daisy had no fear anyway.
The sweater thing reminds me of working my first role at Lowes back in 2012. Be outside in the cold and then walk back in the store and feel like I was dying.
Adam:
An awful way to have to work (and easy to get sick). They were both comfortable. I was roasting.
Good for you for keeping in touch
Urspo:
I hope we all maintain this. We’ve only been gone a few months.