Chapter 34: Merry Me

“Be Kind,
For Everyone you meet, is
Fighting a Hard Battle”
-Plato

June 20, 1970

The Big Day. Pug’s Birthday.

Regular Season, Game 65, at Boston Red Sox. We Won 8-3. (Nite)

The Rat Pack, Day 5 of 6 @ RCMH, 8pm.

“I lost at love before
Got mad & closed the door
But you said try just once more

I chose you for the one
Now we’re havin’ so much fun
You treated me so kind
I’m about to lose my mind

You made me so very happy
I’m so glad you came into my life

The others were untrue
But when it came to lovin’ you
I’d spend my whole life with you

’Cause you came & you took control
You touch my very soul
You always show me that
Lovin’ you is where it’s at

You made me so very happy
I’m so glad you came into my life
Thank you, baby
Yeah, yeah

I love you so much you see
You’re even in my dreams
I can hear
Baby, I can hear you calling me
I’m so in love with you
All I ever want to do is
Thank you baby
Thank you baby

You made me so very happy
I’m so glad you came into my life
You made me so very happy
You made me so, so very happy, baby
I’m so glad you came into my life

Mmm, I wanna thank you, girl
Every day of my life I wanna thank you
You made me so very happy
Oh, I wanna spend my life thankin’ you
Thank you baby, thank you baby
Thank you baby, thank you”

You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
By Blood, Sweat & Tears
Written by:
Berry Gordy, Jr; Brenda Holloway, Patrice Holloway & Frank Wilson

As we got up, Ali gave me a 5yo Husky, named Ryder. He was a Rescue, & Well Trained. I had told her of me Riding my Bike in Tampa, with my Labrador, Duke. His Leash was attached to the Handlebars, & we both Learned to not let a Pole or Person get between us, as we would get all Discombobulated. She thought I could do the same thing with Ryder, this time with our growing Central Perk Bike Club. Sure I stole the Name from Friends, but I had it 1st.

We Rode around the Jackie O Reservoir, in Central Park, at 6am as usual. Ryder was great, although he’s super strong & impulsive at times, like when seeing a Squirrel. I used my Left Leg as an Outrigger, to keep from being pulled over, as Ryder was always to my Right.

Ryder immediately took over Schooling Red, & Red adored Ryder from the start. Ali had introduced them yesterday, so they were cool with each other already.

After our Ride, we went Home to get prepared, as Ali & I were Marrying each other, in our favorite Central Park, at Noon. Everyone would converge on the Delacorte Theatre, for the Ceremony.

Harry Helmsley, 61yo & his MGF Harriet, 23yo, were also getting Hitched.

A 3rd Marriage was gonna happen too. David Geffen, 27yo & his MGF Blanca, 22yo, were Tying the Knot. After David found out that Ali & I were Marrying, he Proposed to Blanca. I invited them to do the deed with us in Central Park. He loved the idea, saying it would be special.

Both Harry & David, had been hooked on their MGF’s from the start. I was happy for both of them. I was especially happy that, THAT BITCH, Leona, was out of the picture. I had convinced Harry to fire her months ago.

It also looked like David Geffen wouldn’t connect with Cher this time, like he did in Ralf’s time. I thought Harri & Blanca, would provide much more stable Relationships, than THAT BITCH, or Cher did.

The Delacorte Theater, is an 1,800 Seat, Outdoor Amphitheater, in the middle of Central Park, being Built in 1962. It is between the American Museum of Natural History, to the West, & the Met, to the East. It is used for Shakespeare in the Park, & perfect for us, as our Guest List was constantly growing. We’d have about 200, so we would still be about 1,600 shy of a Sell Out!

Everyone was Biking In, wearing comfortable clothes. Most were in nice Shorts. Remember, this was 1970, when many couples decided to be Married Outside the Church. Church Weddings were Man-Made BS to me. Married for Eternity? Ali & I were, but a Church Wedding didn’t guarantee that.

Thank you Father, as it was a beautiful June day, without a hint of Rain.

There were a few Groupings, as to Type of friends. 1st was Ali, Ryder, Red & I. Then came all the Government folks, with a bunch of Secret Service on Bikes & Cars following us. Nixon, Ford, Mao, etc. Then came all my main Partners & NYC friends. After that, came my PastTimeRadio crowd, led by Bill Graham. Those I met in Europe, followed, then my Sports friends & Players, mainly my NY Yankees, past & present. Last were all my Hollywood friends & Partners, led by David Geffen.

We headed to the Delacorte Theater at 11:30am, arriving at 11:40, as it was only a 10 minute Ride from The Plaza.

Chairman Mao & L.C., Rode in a Custom, B-G Special, Trike. They Sat next to each other, both having Pedals. They easily made the Ride, having a great time, amongst all of us.

I had asked the Mayor of NYC, Ed Koch, to Marry us. He loved it, as this was the perfect introduction, for him as NYC’s new Mayor. He relished the attention, in such a childlike way, that it was cute & charming.

Everyone who came, did so out of love & respect for Ali & I. Harry Helmsley & David Geffen had many come as their friends too.

My Best Man was Sean Connery, as he gave the best Toasts.

After the Ceremony, we Biked back to The Plaza Hotel.

Harry surprised me again, really blowing me away. He had gotten with my other Big-5 Partners, Buying the Westin Hotel Chain. Westin’s Crown Jewell was The Plaza Hotel. It was where Ali & I had stayed in NYC, at 1st. It was also where we met everyone each morning, to Ride the Park.

Wow! We had our Wedding Reception at The Plaza, taking up all the Public Rooms: the Palm Court, Oak Bar, Oak Room, Ballroom, etc.

My NY Yankees were Away, Playing a Nite Game in Boston, so after the Toasts, they Boarded a Bus that took them to our Jet Aviation-TEB, FBO. They then Boarded a Pan Am 727 to BOS. I missed the Game, but we Won 8-3. Yippie, a good Omen.

The Westin Hotel Chain, was much smaller in 1970, but already had some iconic Hotels, like The Plaza in NYC, but also great Hotels in LA, Seattle, Vancouver, BC, Philly, etc. They Owned the Real Hotel Chain in Mexico too.

Ali & I were Moving to The Plaza. We were taking over the Top Tier, as most of those Rooms had Sloping Walls & Ceilings, with Dormer Windows. We would offer all those Rooms to our growing group of MGF’s, who gladly accepted, happy to live across from Central Park. We also used the Rooms facing the 58th Street side, for our uses, as they were less desirable to Rent for the Night to the Public. Everyone wanted to face Central Park, but all the Rooms were great. We offed them to any of our Employees, for the Night, or long term. The Plaza was famous for its Food & Room Service.

The Oak Bar instantly became my Hangout, as I just loved it’s 1890’s Look. That’s where we 1st met with Howard G Minsky, way back in Aug, 1969. I’d never renovate the Oak Bar, keeping the Wear & Tear, as that was its Charm.

Ali & I were given the Bridal Suite for the Night. We were bumped from the Presidential Suite, well, by the President, Nixon.

I was still going to be great friends with Cesar Balsa, Owner of the St Regis Hotel, my Home for the last year. With all those in town for the Wedding, his Hotel was maxed out, as was our new, Plaza Hotel.

Warren, Susan & Astrid Buffett, were Moving into my old St Regis Penthouse. It was going to be Warren’s NYC Apartment, as he was in NYC more & more, being a Partner in Top-5.