A MEANING ALL ITS OWN

I stop in my tracks. The beautiful lady in Nieman’s window just winked to me. Did my eyes deceive me or did she really wink? It must have been the lighting, the sun, but I don’t think so. That was a wink! I look at her again and am positive a slight smile makes her cheeks glow. Stay, stay, your lunch appointment will wait a few minutes. A little imp inside my gut tells me what a stunner Ms. Kimmel is, what an asset she will be to the ladies’ department. Panache is her middle name. A wait may do her good. I tell that mischievous imp to jump into the fountain, I’ll get to Romano’s when I get there.

Did kids drop a load of chewing gum around me? My feet feel glued to the pavement. Move feet, move. Over my shoulder I see the lady in the window again. Nobody else stops to gaze at her magnificent face. A bag lady bumps into me and I feel my back pocket to be sure my wallet is still ok. The face, the magical face, has a single tear on its cheek. Am I awake? Am I going bonkers? The tear is small and disappears before it reaches her lips. If I am dreaming, don’t anyone wake me. The sun’s rays make her turquoise eyes shine, putting the stars to shame.

A well-dressed woman, obviously with money to spend, looks at the mannequin for a moment, seeing only the emerald green gown and diamonds on its ears and arm. With no hesitation she goes in the revolving door and heads directly for the escalator. Oh, my beautiful lady may soon be naked. Ms. Kimmel must be stewing. Tough!

Imagination takes over. A tinkling piano plays in my ears and Jimmy Durante taps me on the back. He’s singing his favorite song, ‘Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go, yet you wanted to stay?’ He wrote that for me. He doffs his fedora, cocks his head, gives me his Ha cha cha and vanishes in thin air.

O.K., Mister. You are late enough, more than is polite. Go! Nieman’s is only a city block away from Romano’s. The traffic light is on walk but I trot. Easily I spot Miss Kimmel. She seems at ease and is sipping a Silver Mist cocktail. Her silk suit is emerald green. Lovely, simple diamond earrings hang low, touch her shoulders. A twinkling turquoise eye winks at me. The corners of her mouth come close to a smile. I offer her my hand and an apology for being a few minutes late. Her shrug of acceptance will do for the nonce. But- she goes on. ‘I thought you weren’t coming and I almost cried but wiped away that silly tear before you saw the baby me.’ Glancing at her Silver Mist she smiled her angel smile at me and I saw her face, her magnificent, magical face.

I sat down, ordered a double martini, extra dry with a twist and spoke silently to god

‘Thank you, thank you, Lord. Thank you for the preview!’