Christine LeBel, Easthampton, MA

Thanks for doing this.

THE BEST OF MEALS

I remember what I had for dessert on May 14, 2006.

That day is indelibly etched into my memory because it was the weekend we brought Frankie to town.

I first met Frankie in the late 1990s. A swing revival was filling dance halls and the Stevens sisters of Pasadena, California, were offering lessons to the eager masses. Tammy Stevens was a friend of Frankie’s, one of those responsible for bringing him out of long retirement and back to the swing limelight. It was there I learned from him the solo jazz routine known as “Shim Sham” and danced with him as he gave pointers during one of the lindy hop classes. I’ve seen and interacted with him many times since.

Always gracious and kind, he was old school—treat your dance partner like they’re the most important thing in the world—because they are, at least for a song. The love and respect he gave came back to him in spades.

When I moved east, I became involved in the local dance scene which grew strong enough to support bringing Frankie to our own dance floor, which we did three years ago for an afternoon of workshops (lindy hop, shim sham, and Frankie’s favorite moves), followed by that memorable dinner during which I not only got to sit next to the man I so admired, but actually talk to him for more than a moment in a dance rotation.

In honor of his birthday, we requested the restaurant—the Apollo Grill in Easthampton, Massachusetts—to make his favorite dessert, sweet potato pie. I remember his eyes lit up when he saw the burning candle atop the spicy-sweet Southern pastry, which he proceeded to share with the entire table. It was even better for the company.

That would have been enough to cherish, but dinner was topped off with story time—during which Frankie shared the moments of his life that made him into the dancer and man we knew and loved. A dessert for the soul.

Thank you, Frankie. My life, and so many lives (and meals), would be less without you.

Frankie Manning: May 26, 1914 – April 27, 2009.
Rest in peace. You will not be forgotten.

The above blog post can be found in its original form at http://www.passionaterations.com/2009/04/30/the-best-of-meals, along with a link back here.