When I met Phyllis, I had been working in Hauppauge, NY, playing oboe in the Northport Symphony Orchestra and living in a dilapilated old house in Muttontown. My daughter had started an internship in the company where I worked and the dirt, grime and mold in the Muttontown house had made life unbearable. 

The orchestra had its garden party around this time. The members of the orchestra new I was looking for new accomodations and the flutist knew Phyllis. Flute knew of the apartment in Phyllis's house and suggested I talk to her at the garden party (which Phyllis never missed). My daughter was also with me at the garden party and we played an oboe-clarinet duet.

Phyllis was not interested in renting out the apartment. She had just recovered from a very bad experience with a previous tennant and needed a break. I was very convincing (I guess) because she finally agreed to show us the room. Maybe it was my bowtie that swayed her. We moved in the next week and it was a match made in heaven!

De tout coeur avec vous en ces instants. Que la paix l'accompagne. 

Sincères condoléances, 

Famille Casanova