Thursday, August 02, 2001

With apologies (and thanks) to Rupert Holmes…

I finally got to meet Nathan tonight, our first face-to-face encounter after nearly three years of e-mail correspondence begun when he read a magazine article I'd written and tracked me down on the web. His wife Nina, a neurosciences specialist, has taken a job in St. Louis and Nathan was visiting a few weeks early to scout out potential new homes. We agreed to get together for dinner.

I'm always glad to have the opportunity to show off my town, and our plan to meet in the Central West End afforded the chance to demonstrate such amenities as browsing at Left Bank Books, a delicious meal at a sidewalk table at Duff's and, finally, cool blender drinks on the patio at Wildflower.

As we began the long walk back to where I had parked on Maryland Plaza, a low rumble of thunder was followed almost immediately by rain, a few drops at first and then a downpour. We sprinted the final few blocks, laughing like perfect idiots, diving at last into the steamy, relative dryness of my car.

"Man, I really love a summer thunderstorm," said Nathan, trying in vain to dry his glasses on his thoroughly soaked shirt. "Sometimes I just like to stand outside and let the rain pelt my face."

"We've always gotten on great," I said, "but now I know we're going to be fabulous friends for life."

"Why is that?" he asked.

"Well, you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain..."

Nathan's laughter came so quickly and so hard, I worried he was going to bump his head against the windshield.

"...and I'm not really into yoga, and I like to think I have at least half a brain," I finished, while Nathan held his side.

"I've never met anyone who could so easily quote cheesy 70s songs in casual conversation," he said, "but I'm a happily married man. There's no way you and I are making love, midnight or any other time. And I don't think St. Louis has dunes or a cape."

We laughed and sang and laughed some more while I drove him back to his hotel, as lightning danced crookedly across the sky, illuminating the Arch and showing off the city some more.

Welcome to St. Louis, Nathan. Nina, when you get here, we'll all find a bar called O'Malley's and toast to your new job and new home. After all, I'm not into health food, but I'm into champagne.