I believe that it was the ONLY place it could have happened.
Now, it only exists only in my memories.
It was the mid1980's and I had moved to the place that I would call my future and forever home - Nyack, NY. I had come here because of my first job in television at a small, local cable television station where I produced and hosted what became a fairly popular magazine style program called "Eye On Rockland". It's hard for me to believe it, but occasionally someone will still recognizing me on the street for it today. My partner Amanda gets a real kick out of it!
Anyway, having lived in Nyack, I like, most of the other local urchins, frequented a select number of local bars including Eastwick's, The Old Fashioned, and, my personal favorite, O'Donoghue's. All of them had their distinct flavors (in every sense of the word) and I made regular rounds at all three. But, O'Donoghue's, a former speakeasy and the oldest family run bar in the County, was the place I went to for good food, cold beer, and GREAT conversation (I have another post devoted strictly to its wonderful and long history).
And so it was one summer evening. I was sitting in my favorite stool near the end of the bar so I could get a good view of what was happening in the place. I pretty much minded my own business but I'm an affable guy and if a good conversation lent itself, I was game.
A tall, handsome in his own right, blonde man approached me as if he recognized me. As I was on TV (even small-time, it's still TV!) this was not entirely unusual. Strangely, I thought I recognized him from TV too! He seemed friendly enough so I engaged him.
It turned out that his WAS on a TV - a recurring role on a daily soap opera. He had also done some other acting in films and commercials. He told me his name but unfortunately it's now lost through time.
At one point, without any prompting, he said something that I have taken with me to this very day. It went something like this:
"I've seen your work. You have talent. You can make it. BUT, they won't make it easy for someone like you. Just don't quit."
I was flabbergasted. I did not know this man and he certainly did not know me. But he spoke with such honesty and sincerity. He had no reason to say such things. He wanted nothing from me except some conversation. He did not elaborate further but repeated it again. Having been so taken by that comment, I honestly don't remember details of the rest of our conversation.
Many years later, when I was working for CBS News on W57th Street, I actually saw him at the corner of W57th and 10th Ave. I understood that the apartment house on the corner was actually a subsidized building that provided apartments for aging actors. He must have been living there! I tried to get his attention but he disappeared behind the front door before I could reach him. Not remembering his name, I couldn't locate him on the registry.
I never saw him again.
But I never forgot him or what he said to me and I will be forever grateful. When I feel beat, spent, down, finished, I think of what he said.
Because, magic can happen - at the right time and place - if you believe.
