Adventurers' Club Publications

TELEPHOMANIA by Frank Haigler, #825

Shortly before I was to leave for Israel as a volunteer in the Sar-El I received a list of suggested personal items to bring. Among other things was five or six pairs of heavy wool socks. Although we would be issued regular army work uniforms and boots, socks were not to be issued.

Reflecting on this I recalled that, over forty five years ago when I was discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, I had packed all my equipment and utility clothing away in an old foot locker. Sure enough amongst all this gear were exactly six pair of heavy Marine socks wrapped in an old faded yellow newspaper, a page from the society section of the New York Times of May 16, 1946.

As one often is wont to do with old magazines and newspapers, I curiously read the items. One caught my interest, a wedding announcement. "Mr. and Mrs. `John Doe' announce the wedding of their daughter Jane to Mr. William Galvin of Babylon, Long Island. Mr. Galvin is a graduate of the Columbia School of Law and, following the nuptials, the couple will take up residence in Babylon where Mr. Galvin will open his law office."

The long distance operator informed me that there was, indeed, an attorney in Babylon named John Galvin. Well, I couldn't let it rest there so I called the number given and shortly was trying to explain to a bewildered Mr. Galvin why a complete stranger would be calling him from California, and all because of six pair of wool socks and my forthcoming trip to Israel and, on top of all that, about an old 45 year old newspaper story.

What kind of a nut was this, he wanted to know. He did acknowledge, however, that what was even stranger than my call was the fact that he was still married to that same woman and, in addition, she had completed law school also and was currently his partner in practice.

He asked that I send him the old newspaper which I did. Several days later I received a return call. It seems that my newspaper had arrived and was passed around at a lawyers' meeting, eliciting considerable interest. No one, it seemed, could better that story. Mr. Galvin inquired as to when I would be returning from Israel and, if passing through New York, he would most certainly drive into the city and take me to dinner. He apparently wanted to meet "this nut".

(Post Script) Unfortunately, Mr. Galvin and I missed connections when I returned from Israel. I missed a free dinner and Mr. Galvin missed "that nut". But, I won't give up this easily. I'll make connections next time I'm in New York and that should be good for another story.