Madison Square Garden. A group of us had gone down to see a concert. We were all in good spirits. It was a big crowd, and we still had time before it started. Carl (George’s brother) decides he needs to visit the bathroom, and a little while later, George gets up to go as well. Carl is back from the bathroom first. He’s laughing like crazy, shaking his head. We all know George has been up to no good again.

“Okay. Give up the story.”

Well, I’m in the bathroom, using a urinal when another guy comes in.”

Aside: I learned that day that when men use a public bathroom and there is already someone at the urinals, etiquette dictates the new entrant leave a urinal between the man already using them. Personal space. (Which the stranger does…)

“So…” Carl continues between giggles, “there we are, standing there, when George comes in. But he doesn’t go to any of the other empty urinals, he comes over, and squeezes in between the new guy and me.”

All of us look askance. George and Carl, though brothers, look nothing alike–one blonde and blue eyes, one dark haired and brown eyes–so we know the stranger has no inkling of their connection.

Carl puts his hands up to stall any comments.
“Then, your husband (staring at me here) peeks down at me and mine, and visibly reacts, shouting, loudly, “WOW!!!”

We all start laughing. Carl puts his hands up again…

“And THEN, he looks over at the stranger, peers down, and without a word, looks at the guy, and just shakes his head sadly.”

Carl has always been forever after known as “Mr. Wow.”

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