Part VIII: Masterpiece Musings

It was now the end of that year – 1983. The year’s efforts ended with a young client asking me to coordinate a New Year party for her large circle of friends at a unique location.

I was able to secure one of my favorite locations of all – the Ennis-Brown House, the spectacular masterpiece creation of architect Frank Lloyd Wright that sits atop the hills of Los Angeles and resembles a Mayan temple. The famous “block” home had been the setting for numerous films, music videos and fashion layouts. Although privately purchased many years before and owned by the “caretaker”, it was legally owned by a Trust, and all funds from its rentals were used for its restoration and maintenance. I had booked the home several times.

My event planning career was giving me exposure to the most distinctive venues in the city and I was developing a great respect and appreciation for the design, architecture and historical significance of the city’s treasures.

The New Year's party was great fun for the guests - well, at least for those who remembered it the next day. :-) Augustus Brown (“Gus”), the owner/caretaker, was an older gentleman who always acted as the charming informative host and docent for the events booked at the home. In his normally quiet manner, he would guide the guests through a tour of the home, highlighting special features, such as the glass library door designed by Wright that was valued at a million dollars. Gus had bought the home 25 years before from Mr. Ennis for a paltry $100,000 and it was now worth millions.

This New Year’s Eve was the only time I had ever seen Gus become inebriated. As my catering staff was cleaning up and I was anxious to return home, Guss waddled in my direction and with a slur asked if I would like to stay. I knew he had no idea what he was doing. I laughed and said, “Gus…it’s me…Marilyn”. I am sure he had no recollection the next day and would have been embarrassed if he did. :-)

I realized that I didn’t enjoy booking parties on New Year’s Eve. I found guests to be particularly unrefined at this time and I eventually turned down requests to do them, even though I could have my staff handle everything and I didn’t need to attend. I didn’t want to be associated with celebrations where guests could potentially put themselves in harm’s way on the road. From that time on, I considered the New Year a time of renewal and spiritual introspection and preferred to devote it to my personal life.

I returned home after the New Year’s party. I was tired and weary. I’m sure my feet hurt. I’ll admit that at that moment in time, I said to myself (as I have done other times after a particularly tiring event) that I didn’t want to be an event planner any more.

But what I WAS guided to do after I returned home would change the course of my life…

To be continued…

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