A friend of mine in Munich is about to celebrate his 19th birthday. He looks older than 19 because he is a Leap Year baby. Come February 29th, Barry Griffiths will be 76.
BG and lmc worked together for ten years at Radio Free Europe. (Barry’s version of that sentence would undoubtedly be “ten long years.”) He was one of my bosses, and, yes, I frequently said and yelled things at him that would have gotten me fired at many places.
Barry was a first-class journalist. After a big story broke, he was particularly adept at digging up background material and analysis and writing a clear, understandable piece for the English-language wire at RFE in an hour or less. There aren’t many of us who could do that as fast and as well.
We’ve traded music albums and tapes over the years, gone skiing - including my one and only trip to the breathtaking area of Val d’Isère, France - and had many meals together with our wives, Inge and Irene. I helped put up kitchen cabinets in Barry and Inge’s Munich apartment, but they moved to another unit in the building before the cabinets fell off the wall.
Barry speaks excellent German, and I bumped into him one night at a Munich theater that showed movies in English. Just before “Bullitt” began, Barry whispered, “You know I’ve never heard Steve McQueen speak English.”
Barry and Inge were visiting in the States when they found out CBS News wasn’t renewing my contract and changed their travel plans to come to New York. During their stay, we had one memorable dinner when a waiter with a full tray of food slipped, went to one knee but didn’t drop or spill a thing. This feat drew loud applause.
I suppose you can tell I have some affection for the old guy, even though he is a Canadian. I plan to send him a tasteless card and will, once I find one that meets my low standards. I also want to write him a note that might hint at sentimentality but is also loaded with needles. After all, I have a reputation to uphold.
Here’s where I am at the moment in drafting a note:
- If it weren’t for (_____________name an older, living person), you would be the oldest person I know.
- Be careful going up and down the stairs. Hold on to things when possible.
- It’s a good idea to take your cell phone into the john in case you get stuck or need directions to get back to the living room.
- You never really had as much hair as it appeared. You just combed it funny.
-Be careful going up and down the stairs. Hold on to things when possible.
- I remember when you used to send me things from “Playboy.” Now all you send me is stuff from the “Columbia Journalism Review.” Why?
- You can’t tell me you don’t miss those eight or nine cigars a day.
- When are you due for your next performance review? And who gives these things at your age?
- Is it possible we weren’t as good in the newsroom as we thought we were? Nah. Wait a minute – did we work at RFE or BMW?
(Don’t let Inge see this part.)
- Little Ullie used to tell damn good stories about you and her working the overnight. Man, I hope some of them were true.
- By the way, Big Ullie also had some good stories.
(Inge may look again.)
- Is the reason you’re wearing slippers all the time now because you can’t bend over to tie your shoes?
- Be careful going up and down the stairs. Hold on to things when possible.
- If I live to be your age, am I going to look like you?
Happy 76th! And yes, yes, my Canadian friend I agree with you. If American baseball is going to hold what it calls the World Series, it would be good if the rest of the world were invited.
(Posted February 18, 2012)