I am risking outrage from half of San Francisco when I say this, but…to me the painted ladies so well chronicled in George Heymont’s Mandate feature outrank all else in that city. I prefer them to the cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Tony Bennett singing “I Left My Heart in….” well, you know where he left it.
I’ve singled out George Heymont in earlier chapters as a frequent contributor who wrote on any number of subjects. He was also the only one who ever invited me to the opera — perhaps his favorite topic of conversation and prose.
When I began writing Did You Sleep With the Models? as the pandemic raged, I set out to find as many former contributors as possible. I was extremely happy, and surprised, at the half-dozen who quickly turned up. George Heymont was on my Rolodex (remember that ancient office tool?). Thinking to myself, He surely has switched phone numbers after all these years, I dialed his 415 land line. Waiting for the unwelcome recorded message “The number you have dialed is no longer in service,” I caught my breath when he answered as if he had been waiting for no other call than mine. Unflappable George; “Hello, Sam,” he said calmly, as if I were still in New York and calling to give his next Mandate assignment.
And we’ve stayed in touch ever since.