[Penn]

We have been searching for a used Moletini or a Bonnet stove for several years. The stoves, new stoves usually cost about $100,000-$150,000, in used condition, $40/$90k.

We finally found one in Brussels, and as I thought about the additional cost of flying into Brussels to personally inspect the stove, that kind of money requires on site inspection, I thought about the traveling, how difficult it is for us and the fact I have to travel first class, so I can lay down rather than sit in a seat, that way my blood flow is not interrupted as I fly for eight or nine hours, the blood clotting is that bad.

We started thinking about who could represent us in Brussels and had the knowledge to be able to look at that stove; a Lawyer that could act on our behalf, but would he possess the knowledge base on these remarkable stoves, most likely not.

Then Estella asked, “What about your friend who lives in Brussels, that your daughter lived with?”

It’s shocking what we forget in our busy lives.

Muzzy and I had worked together at the tarragon tree for four years, Muzzy Horn. We worked together in the late 1970s, at the end of the hippie period. There was a lot of disparity in my life then, and you know, things happen and cascade rapidly. When you’re trying to control everything, you are usually out of control. Marriage is on the rocks, and suddenly a lot of women are in your orbit, that kind of stuff and Muzzy and I shared girlfriends, or should I say, the girlfriend shared us; so as I was thinking about the stove, of all these old memories were coming through me and and I remembered that out of nowhere, I remember my daughter, who worked for me all through high school at my restaurant in Chatham. I sent her to Brussels and gave her an American Express card. She could spend $ 1,000 a month, and she was gonna live with Muzzy, his wife, and his child.
He was a great musician, a fantastic guitar player, and Korin was as well. She sat down at six years of age at the piano and just started playing, Notes, chords, and Pedals. By the time she reached high school, she was playing in NYC with older jazz musicians. She claimed my ’76 black Eldorado convertible as her ride, driving around Summit, NJ in the 1990’s, listening to the Rascals. So it was a perfect environment for Korin to see Europe, play with outstanding musicians, and have a great time. She lived in Brussels for 18 months.

Flooded by the memories, oh my God, all I have to do is text and get Muzzy’s phone number.
She doesn’t have it.

So, I log on to X and Grok, we pay for the premium, as we need the research tools for max AI search systems, and I plug in Muzzy Horn Brussels, and it shoots back his information and the fact that Muzzy has died.

The surprise of that notice caused me to think about all the things from that time. Period. Muzzy was a true friend who worked together in the kitchen. He played guitar together at the end of the night. We stayed in touch for over 40 years, even after he moved to Brussels and was living there for 30 years; we would be in touch.

The fact that he took my daughter in for a year and a half, without question, so when I found out that he had died, a huge sadness came over me, and I was just beside myself, for failing to maintain the connection. For most of the morning and into the afternoon, Korin and I reminisced, laughing with heart felt tears, about our separate relationship with Muzzy, and then out of the blue I stated “I had another angel watching over me.”
Korin said, “Muzzy is talking to you.”