Carl Reiner Dead at 98

[calimary]

48. I once shared spit with Carl Reiner.

I went to interview him at his home in Beverly Hills. I was led to a large, sunny indoor terrace that had the usual large sofas and chairs and lovely decor, and a small bar in one corner - as every home had, years ago. There was always a bar area with a counter and sink, cabinets for all kinds of cocktail glasses and bottles of fine liquor for entertaining, drawers for knives and stirring and mixing utensils.

And at one point in the interview he got up from where he was seated and asked if I'd like an egg cream.

Okay, an egg cream with Carl Reiner. I had a moment there - what a perfect existential moment with someone like Carl Reiner - to toast with an egg cream. Which he was about to produce - homemade. By him. So I rolled tape on it, leaning in over the bar with my microphone. And he described the how-to steps as he worked. So I got the sound of the spoon stirring the mix inside the glass. And he then he took the spoon and tasted it. Pronounced it fit. And then he stuck the same spoon back down into the mix and stirred it a final time. Just like your dad might have done. And then the pouring. And we toasted. And yep, it tasted like an official regulation egg cream. Handmade by "ol' Uncle Carl." With an ever so slight dash of spit.

I thought - I have just gone to Borscht Belt/Show of Shows Heaven.

God bless you, Carl Reiner! He's probably designed a special house in heaven with an in-home entertainment area for doing shows and comedy bits, screening room for the films He'll want you to make, AND the corner bar for the blending of heavenly egg creams - that He will want you personally to stir up for Him. And don't forget to share the spoon!