We've told this story so many times that I've decided to immortalize it on the site.

The day was September 4, 1980, Labor Day Weekend. I had a gig at KENT'S EAST nightclub in West Brighton, Staten Island, New York. At the time, I played in a Lounge Band called RAPID TRANSIT (named after the train service on Staten Island). It was a typical New York Lounge band with Blue Tuxedos and a stereotypical 'Vic Damonesque' lead-singer. That particular day I decided that I was going to 'forget' my grotesque Blue Tuxedo and leave it hanging in the closet. Instead I wore Red Pants and a Yellow Shirt - Go figure (click here for a picture of the outfit). This oversight was to prove very pivotal for me. In the crowd was a girl that I recognized from High School.

Before I go any further, let me back up and tell you that I lied about the day we met. Patty actually sat in front of me (editor's note: I think I might have sat behind you) in Social Studies class in High School back in 1977. She was a junior/senior and I was a senior (she was in the accelerated 3-year graduation program). Not that we spoke much, since I was in the class only on rare occasions. She was the keeper-of-the-attendance person (remember Delaney cards?) and she marked me 'present' for whatever reason. Looking back and seeing how she takes care of me now, it makes me smile! Anyhow, back to the story...

The bandleader tried to talk me into driving back home before the gig to get my Tuxedo, but I wouldn't have any of that. So there I was on stage with my red and yellow outfit amidst a flock of Blue Tuxedoes. Quite a sight, I'm sure. During one of the breaks, I wandered around the club and saw that familiar girl from my high school sitting at the bar. I walked up to her and said 'Hi' and asked her if she remembered me from school. But having been 'hit on' by every other guy in the club she promptly dismissed me. So I went back to my keyboard and continued playing 'This Magic Moment', 'The Gambler', and whatever else we did back then.

Club bands play until the wee hours of morning in New York and somewhere around 4AM the band finished up the last set and began packing up the instruments. It was then that I noticed the familiar girl standing over by the edge of the bandstand. It appeared to me as if she was waiting for something so I went over and began to talk with her. We hit if off right away and we talked for what seemed like a long while outside the club. After that we went to an all night diner for breakfast (the Victory Diner is still standing – barely - on Richmond Road last time I checked; It is featured as LUCKY'S DINER in the movie EASY MONEY with Rodney Dangerfield). Afterward, Patty went home to her parents and I went home to mine. As it turned out, we only lived a few miles from each other. The next day I called to invite her to a party and the rest is social studies, er, history.

In 2004 we celebrated 20 years married.

The interesting thing about it is that Patty wouldn't have been caught dead in that club if it wasn't for her girlfriend Mary badgering her to go out that night. Kent's East tended to have hordes of middle-aged married men on the prowl. And the story continues...