July 7, 1980 was a Monday. It was sunny in Philadelphia. I remember that. I was working mornings as a deejay at WIFI in Philadelphia, an also ran top-40 station.
There was nothing to make me think the day would be special. As it turns out it was the most important day of my life!
I was still on the air when the phone rang. Farrell Meisel. He’s my friend now. That morning he a was offering me a job at WGR-TV where he was program director.
Oh my God! I’d sent a tape with (literally) everything I’d ever done on camera. He was asking me to co-host PM Magazine/Buffalo.
This was my break! Radio was over. I was heading to TV in two weeks. Even though it meant a small cut in pay and moving to Buffalo it was a great opportunity. I am forever grateful.
OK–so far a pretty decent day so far–right? There’s more.
At 10:00 AM my air shift was over. I rushed from the studio to meet some friends and give them the news. As I barreled around a corner I knocked down a young woman who’d just started that morning. By the time I saw her she was sitting on the floor!
That’s how we met. It could be a scene in a movie.
Wow! In one morning I changed careers, committed to move and met the woman I’d one day marry.
Helaine and I have known each other 30 years today. That’s half my life and a much larger percentage of hers.
Whatever I am and wherever I’ve gone owes a great deal to her. Plus, I’m still seriously in love.
That was a pretty damn good day!
Cosmic! Imagine if you had called in sick that day- or the call came in the afternoon! It’s documented (not kidding) in psychology that colliding with a person (or knocking what she’s carrying down and helping) escalates the attractive adrenaline. Who knows?
Mazel tov. 30 years! It says a lot of good about both of you. Beautiful and uplifting.
Mazel tov. I’ll be forever proud to call you a friend. And, 30 years later, I’m (still) pleased you made PM Magazine Buffalo the success it had become. Now, can you do something about this heat, already?
Fate, karma, all the same. 30 years is quite a feat! Congrats!!
Congrats to both of you!
That’s a great story. Congratulations Geoff and Helaine!
I think in Yiddish the term is “beshert,” roughly translated as “meant to be.” One of the wonders of life is that these marvelous occasions happen — an we’re to accept and appreciate their occurance, not forensically figure out how they did.
Congratulations!
MAZEL TOV to you both!
Yes, you were moving in two weeks and one of your friends (and a new friend of mine) kept trying to convince me NOT to get involved with you. Too late. I fell in love with you that fateful day!
And 30 years later I still love you and I’m still in love with you! Pretty amazing.
Such a great story! Such a great couple!! Best wishes to you both! 😀
verklempt. every year. never stop telling this story. please.