Lunch with Jerry Izenberg (and Aileen)

Our Continuing Conversation: Today's Episode: Leave Room for the Cream

Jerry called yesterday afternoon to tell me we were having Italian food today, Tuesday, and that he and Aileen were going to meet me at the restaurant. He gave me the name of the place —Nora’s.

“I’ll give you a few minutes to write it down,” he said.

Because, after all, you need a few minutes to jot down 5 letters and an apostrophe.

Jerry also said I should come over to the house on Wednesday, so we could talk for a few hours before going out for Chinese food.

And if you don’t know why it’s important to plan Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s meals on Monday afternoon, what can I tell you — it’s a Jew thing. The ways of my people are mysterious, even to us.

While he was telling me the plans, I heard Aileen ask him, “Do we even know if Barry likes Chinese food?”

“I like Chinese food! Why do you care if this guy likes it?”

This guy.

He then told her to turn down the television so he could hear me better.

“Do you have any idea how important this man is?” he says to her about me. “He has a lot of important things to say. He’s very well known in Oklahoma.”

At Nora’s today, as we sat down, Jerry told me quietly it wasn’t his favorite place.

“But Aileen likes it and she gets two votes for every one of mine.”

Secret to a successful marriage.

He orders iced coffee with cream.