Steven Speak

As Steven got older, he did become a tad better at expressing his fond feelings in a conventional way.  I credit myself for that of course.  But particularly when he was younger, you needed to understand “Steven speak” to feel the love.

His secretary, Alma Gilligan, was a phenomenal secretary.  Steven would often come home singing her praises.  He was really grateful to have her as his secretary, but I was concerned that he might only be expressing that to me, not to her.  So one time I was on the phone with Alma, and said:  “I hope Steve tells you how great he thinks you are and how much he appreciates you.”  Alma reassured me that he did.   I was surprised and happy to hear that:  “Really, Alma?”  Alma:  “Oh yes, why just the other day he heard a rumor that I was going to go work for a different lawyer.  He came out of his office, walked up to my desk, said:  ‘Alma, you leave me for another attorney, I’m breaking your knee caps,’ and went back into his office."