A letter from Kem

Dear Marguey,

Thinking of you today and remembering so many shared memories going back to Speciale when we first met (age 8). Eating lunch at 1 pm in Central Park just about every day. Skating on Fridays at Wollman Rink. (That’s where we were when JFK was shot.) And so many afternoons spent at your place doing homework before Mr. Trogan’s theory lessons in the living room (with the portraits of your ancestors), baking cakes in your very large kitchen for special occasions (such as the 4-leaf clover cake for St. Patrick’s Day—it had a lot of green icing).

For a while you had a Natalie’s crib in your room. I can remember staring at her—she was so little and I guess I had not been around a lot of babies. I thought you were the best “big sister.” Once you were all going out and in a rush and your mother asked you to hem Natalie’s dress. You did it right away and it only took you 5 minutes. I couldn’t believe it.

There was the Thanksgiving we had together when you all arrived wearing pilgrim hats (or maybe it was just the boys). And then the plays we did at school. (I have a picture of you in a yellow dress in a scene from Taming of the Shrew.) Thank you for organizing the Lycee reunion on Zoom. It was wonderful to see everyone and you created so many fun visuals. Glad you saved all those yearbooks. We had a lot of fun with Mary and Judy—amazing we were all together on Zoom not too long ago.

And to think we both ended up at Yale after I left for New Hampshire in the middle of 3eme and you went to Italy 2 years later. Of course, I remember the debutante party (if that’s what it was called) at the Plaza. You were a beautiful white dress (one shoulder, as I recall). And I wore a dress I had borrowed from Dramat. George Miller was there and we had breakfast at midnight. You came to our wedding. I have a picture of you and Mary standing outside the church. I pulled it out yesterday.

I felt a special closeness to you when both our fathers died so young. (Of course, they were very different people….)  Your family was always very good to John and often had him over for dinner.

We had the best time with you in Paris after Edward was born. I remember going to a playground and celebrating Eve’s birthday. (That was just before you leant us your car to drive to Giverny and Mont St. Michel.)

And you did get to D.C. every once in a while. Small world with your grandmother being a few blocks away at the Washington Home. It was very fun to see you at Eloise’s wedding—along with Jane and Carey.

Marguey, I’m so grateful for our friendship—and for the time we spent together in Lisbon. You have an amazing outlook on life—and you’ve always had an awesome curiosity. I know David is taking good care of you—as you have taken of him. I’ll treasure our drive to the sea, the views from your land, the trees, and the many meals we shared.

Jon sends his love. As you know, he feels a special connection given a) he’s known you a very long time and b) you share the same birthday.