Caveat emptor

This advice came from Murray, who with his wife joined us for breakfast one day at Triton's. He was an older fellow who told me about growing up in the New York garment district. His father was a wage worker and Murray didn't want to follow him, so he joined the Army. He managed to spend a couple years away from home before dad suffered a stroke, then died. As the only son, Murray had to come home and go into the business to support the family. Now retired, he and his wife go on cruises. They like the British Virgin Islands, but not the former French colonies like Dominica and Guadalupe, where even the sales clerks snub you if you don't speak French.

He was great to talk to, and I wish we had more time. His life sounds like something out of Updike: the young man trying to avoid his destiny and failing, then making his accommodation with it. Now he and his wife go on cruises, sometimes with their children and grandchildren, and seem content with their life. Maybe there's a lesson in patience to learn from this.

All material is ©2000-2001 Bill Peschel unless otherwise noted.