Gayle Austin, Playwright

Lived at Westbeth from 1970 to 1985

JKD and Me

In the spring of 1970, I found my 20-year-old self sitting at an old card table in the corner of my new apartment in Westbeth. Across from me sat a middle-aged woman of imposing demeanor whom I knew to be a founder of Westbeth. Joan Kaplan Davidson was the daughter of J.M. Kaplan, whose family foundation was responsible for the renovation of the old Bell Labs into the current masterpiece of Westbeth. I had been shocked when, earlier that evening, she had asked to see my apartment. With a great deal of trepidation, I unlocked the door and let her into my new one-room domicile. It was that time of the day, so I asked if she wanted to have a little dinner.

As I fried up a couple of hamburgers and defrosted some mixed vegetables, I was wondering what in the world to say to this woman who came from a New York stratosphere far higher than my own South Jersey pine barren. But she spoke in a friendly, familiar way, asking me what I thought about the building and the residents I had met. As we ate dinner, I found my tension lessening and found her to be, after all, a regular person. All I could do was answer her questions, as I found I was unable to ask her any of the many questions I found running through my brain. We finished eating, and I accompanied her to the door. As her regal presence walked down the hall, I shook my head. After I closed the door, I wondered whether our encounter had actually taken place. Then I saw two empty plates and fell into a chair, laughing.