MIGLIORI AMICI

How could we miss, a Jew from Brooklyn and an Italian from New Jersey. And if more was needed, a retired clinical psychologist and a retired physician, or, how about a shared passion for food, wine, and art. The bottom line...Harvey and I were meant to be best friends, and we are. For the past 5 years we have enjoyed each others company in a relationship that is equally comfortable in silence, conversation, or laughter. We have shared endless hours of each in my studio where Harvey had his own work space until a week ago. Sadly, he and his lovely wife Jeannie are packing their household in preparation for a move to San Diego later this month. I am having a difficult time imagining life in Paducah without his companionship; we have so many shared memories.

He is a friend, who on 24 hours notice, joined me on a spontaneous 5 day trip to the southwest because of a dream, a trip that taught us a lot about our friendship.

We traveled to NYC for 3 days to attend trade shows, and spent 2 days, in Atlanta on a similar mission.

Harvey accompanied me to Chicago twice, first on an overnight trip to learn about the One of Kind Show, and several months later to help me “do the show” over a five day period.

We’ve made numerous trips Nashville where he has shown me the best places to eat and shop (the Noshville diner - an authentic Jewish Deli, Provence for coffee, and Whole foods, formerly Wild Oats, where I can get broccoli rabe.) . Besides the food we shared the less than delightful experiences of Prostate ablation at the hands of Dr. M at Vanderbilt University, (not simultaneously I should point out) something we both prefer to forget.

The Tilkers and the Renzullis shared at least 3 meals a week, either at our house (chateau coo coo) or at the Tilker"s elegant loft downtown. I don't know what I enjoyed more, cooking pasta for them or partaking of Harvey's Borscht or Jean's pop overs, a pure breakfast delight.

And I would be remiss if I failed to mention that it was Harvey and Jean who introduced us to dining at the bar at Cynthia’s. I would like to describe us as a couple of wild and crazy guys, but the sad truth is, sitting at a bar we talk more about our blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and how many times we have to get up to pee at night (None since visiting Dr. M.!) than anything else.

I will miss sharing my life with him...friendships that are so easy and comfortable are difficult to establish, but they are the ones that can prevail despite time and distance. On a positive note, I now have a very good reason to travel to the southwest.


We laughed a lot!


But we were always serious!


Jean and Harvey Tilker. Patience and I will miss them dearly.