Chapter 19 The Inspiration

                                                                              

The inspiration for the design of our Boles Aero Montecito came directly from a trip we took aboard The Orient Express Train on our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

We were too poor to have a wedding when we married in 1985.  On that June first, so many years ago, I stood in front of borrowed roses and candles (there were three large weddings at Church that day and the first one had set up the night before and graciously consented to our 20 minute wedding using their backdrop) I was crying puppy dog tears large enough to hear them hit my shoes.

Dave being Dave, after many years of working weddings, decided on our 15th, to give me the wedding we never had..... as a surprise.  He and his lovely mother, Norma, traversed the city over a years time planning it unbeknownst to me. It was a lovely candle lit affair with all our friends, full of song, music, flowers, food, and cake. Dave had painstakingly made my dress, the one you saw in the pictures of our 30th Anniversary on Mackinac Island. My husband had hired a significant portion of The Arkansas Symphony to play Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, and dear friends Don and Lisa Doss gave of their music, Dave's assistant Suzanne and her husband Andre' sang our song, "Somewhere Out There" and the incomparable Nikki Parish sang "My Heart Will Go On".......

I cried through the whole thing.

After all this, I wanted to return Dave's kindness. 

Years ago, when we started our business, I chose to subscribe to a magazine to place in the waiting area called "Victoria".  In the first issue was a spread on the reopening of The Orient Express Train.  It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I knew full well we could not afford it but the information was free, so, I sent for it.  I poured over the pages trying my best to insert myself into the pictures.  I kept it, like a keepsake.  Years would pass and, when we would move, I would rediscover it, sit down with a cup of tea, and dream.

After that wonderful wedding I never had and finally did I told Dave, "The 25th is mine."

The years passed and as our Silver Anniversary approached, times had changed.  I would plan a trip to Europe, flying into Rome and out of London and traversing Europe in between.  Every day, everything thing, would be a surprise for Dave.  He would not know where we were going or even what he would wear until I told him.  He loved it.

Rome to the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and onto Venice and it was there, in Venezia, we would one morning board The Orient Express Train bound for Paris.

I have goose bumps as I type this recalling the look on Dave's face when we walked down the platform to board. He thought the commuter train to the left was ours then he glanced at the long gleaming coaches of the VSOE ( Venice Simplon Orient Express ) and said, "I wonder what THAT is!"  I said, "Why don't you go and take a look?" "Oh, I couldn't do that", he said. "Sure you can", I smiled, "You have tickets."  "Well, that's a nice train....." 

Still, no recognition.

I said, "Read the plaque."  We were walking along down the platform and stopped for him to read, "The Venice......Simplon......ORIENT EXPRESS !!!"  He turned and I took this picture.

"Really?! Really?!", he sputtered.  "Yes, dear." I said softly. 

OMG! I'm tearing up writing this...... 

"How long?  Where are we going ?!" came in rapid succession.  In a calming tone I said, "We are traveling to Paris and it's an overnight trip, 24 glorious hours."

We started walking again and saw the uniformed, capped, and white gloved stewards in the distance.  When we met them, a tall, handsome man with a friendly smile, took our luggage and escorted us to our cabin where I captured Dave again.

It was late morning as we pulled out of Venice, beautiful Venice, where we had attended the La Fenice Opera House to see Madamme Butterfly, toured The Doge's Palace, San Marco Square, and lodged at The Danieli. I even arranged for a midnight Gondola ride through the darkened canals while Venice slept.  It was heaven. 

 

 

 

I had made all our dining selections prior to boarding and lunch was in the Etoile Du Nord dining car.  We feasted as the Italian countryside moved past our window.

Afterward, we explored the train.  Many purchases were made in the gift shop and we relaxed in the bar car with piano music from the baby grand filling the space.  While sitting there, delighting in the experience, I noticed an older couple trying to take a picture of themselves.  I offered. They thanked us and took the picture below for us and we began to talk.  Brigitte and her husband were also on an Anniversary trip, their 38th.  They lived in Paris and their daughter married an American and lived in Florida. They traveled back and forth to see them.  Their English was excellent.  We were having a terrific time, the four of us visiting, all the while the other people in the car seemed to be bored to tears.  Which begged the question I asked of Brigitte, "Why isn't everyone on this train having the time of their lives ?"  She leaned forward and surreptitiously glanced left then right and stated matter of factly, "It's because these Rich Bastards don't know how to have a good time!"  I do not know if I have ever laughed so genuinely in my entire life.

Afternoon Tea was served in our cabin as we were climbing through The Alps.  I had noticed that our cabin steward had been standing at the ready just outside our door.  His was the first compartment and ours was the second and we began to visit.  I told him about how I had planned the trip and I sheepishly asked, "Can you tell me your name?"  He leaned over and said, "My name is Wolfgang Epildauer........but.....my friends call me Wolfi."  I replied, "I LOVE YOUR NAME!"

It was right then, we became friends. 

The conversation flowed and the scenery passed.  At one particular point, the tracks curved, and we all hung out the windows to see the length of the train before us.
                   
                                            

This was magic and I knew it at the time it was happening.  Day gave way to evening and we dressed  for dinner.  We would dine in the L'Oriental Car and it was fabulous.  Dinner on The Orient Express! I had chosen the later seating and when we were finished, found our cabin which had been turned for sleeping.  Wolfi's handiwork and it was a lovely surprise.  I had not seen Wolfi after dinner, he was no doubt, busy.

You will never sleep better than on The Orient Express.

We woke, dressed for breakfast, and there was Wolfi, standing in his spot at the ready.  I showed him the picture of us at dinner.  He said, "Oh! You should have woken me to see, Tres' Chic, is Empire, no ?", commenting on my dress.  "I'm so sorry, Wolfi.... I didn't know I could", I said softly.  "I am here for you any time you need." he added and it didn't feel obsequious in the slightest.

We took our breakfast in the Cote D' Azur Dining Car also known as the Lalique Dining Car.  The sun was bright in the fields of France as we neared Paris.  The meal, all the meals, were heaven.  The experience was divine, and the service impeccable.  I truly feel it's the finest thing you can do on planet Earth.

Returning to our cabin, we found our compartment converted to seating and our luggage packed.  Our trip was ending but I did not want it to.  When we pulled into the train station, Wolfi picked up our luggage and helped us to disembark.  He turned to me and said tenderly, "I'm a little sad." "Why Wolfi?" I responded in kind. 'Because, I don't want to say goodbye...." he trailed off.  I looked in his eyes and said, "I don't want to leave."

As I turned to walk away holding Dave's hand, something was tugging at my heart.  We walked about thirty feet and I turned to see Wolfi still looking at us.  I let go of Dave and my luggage and ran to Wolfi, threw my arms around him, and said through tears, "Thank you, thank you so much for making our trip so special.  I, I, want to stay in touch, may I please have your address?"  Without saying a word he pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket that already had his name and address on it.  "I wanted to give this to you, but....I was too shy." he whispered.  "Thank you, Wolfi! I promise, I will write!"

We broke our embrace and I skipped back to Dave who had been watching from where he stood.  I turned again, Wolfi still watching, and waved largely as we walked into the terminal.

Now.  

You surely understand the impact all of this had on me.  It's a memory, I will treasure, forever.

But how do you keep the memory alive ?  

Well, I did write Wolfi and when the Internet came we kept in touch, to this very day.  And when it came time to renovate our Boles Aero, I would endeavor to recreate in it the experience of being aboard The Orient Express Train.  We would Christen and name our trailer "Wolfi" in honor of my dear friend.  

These memories would sustain me through all the back breaking work, disappointment, torment, expense, anger, frustration, anguish, and physical pain of creating our beautiful trailer.  In this way, I could be aboard The Orient Express any time I wished. 

It was to be the repository of my perfect memories during our Silver Anniversary Trip.

A tall order you say ? 

You have no idea.