Kurt Vonnegut, My Friend

Many years ago I was a host at JG Melons in Bridgehampton NY, part of the ritzy Hamptons located on the end of Long Island NY. Even then celebs used to come out in droves during the summer. On any night the tables at Melons would be packed with musicians, actors, artists and writers. Our signature dish was fantastic burgers cooked to perfection and cottage fries that I still long for. Truman Capote was then drunkenly cruising the town and banned from our bar and Paul Simon and Calvin Klein would sit at our tables with friends regularly.

My favorite customers were Kurt Vonnegut and his wife Jill Krementz, they were always friendly and down to earth. In fact I would eagerly await their arrival and would always get a greeting from them. When Jill would be heading away to some photo assignment she would ask me to mind Kurt and remember to get his hat when leaving the place. JG Melons is no longer in Bridgehampton and the celebs seem harder and less deserving. My heart goes out to the wonderful Jill and their family. My favorite Vonnegut quote:

“I’ve had a hell of a good time,” he once wrote. “I tell you we are here on earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you any different.”