Making Whoopee and the Magic Touch

Summary

Podcast Title: For Love and Chocolate
Episode: Making Whoopee and the Magic Touch
Hosts: Tommy and Tara Gallop
Release Date: September 24, 2024

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1. Seasonal Shifts and Neighborhood Buzz (00:12 - 02:41)

Mr. Truffles opens the episode by painting a vivid picture of Beverly Hills transitioning from the bustling summer tourist season to a quieter autumn atmosphere. As the local residents return and the weather cools, the neighborhood gears up for the upcoming holiday season.

"Now that the tourists have kind of left LA and Beverly Hills, all of the locals are back and school is back and the weather is starting to drop..." (00:26)

Mrs. Truffles adds to the ambiance, describing the blend of celebrity presence and local life, highlighting landmarks such as Rodeo Drive, Bedford Drive, and nearby establishments like William Morris Endeavor and Mr. Chow’s restaurant.

"We're smack dab in the middle of all of it." (01:32)

The hosts express excitement over new developments, including a fabulous new restaurant preparing for its grand opening, and the ongoing construction that keeps the neighborhood lively.

2. The Truffle Shipment Glitch and Customer Reactions (02:41 - 05:55)

A sudden hiccup arises when Mr. Truffles and Mrs. Truffles discuss a problematic shipment from Zurich where their popular milk butter crunch truffles failed to arrive. This omission threatens their reputation among devoted customers.

"Our milk butter crunch truffles did not make it onto the airplane tragedy." (02:45)

Mrs. Truffles humorously fears civil unrest due to the absence of this favorite truffle, emphasizing its significance as both a romantic gift and a personal indulgence.

"The champagne truffle is like the go-to romantic gift... the milk butter crunch truffle really is a lot of people's happy place." (03:09)

They recount a memorable incident where a customer's exaggerated reaction to the missing truffles underscored the deep connection their clientele has with their chocolates.

"It's that good. It's that good... people's marital happiness sometimes depends on it." (04:42)

3. Family Matters: Welcoming Marley’s Boyfriend (05:55 - 06:11)

Switching gears to personal life, Mrs. Truffles shares the excitement of their daughter Marley bringing her new boyfriend for dinner. The hosts humorously emphasize the importance of making a good impression, from preparing barbecue to giving the family dogs a bath.

"We're giving the dogs baths. It's a big, big deal." (05:09)

This segment highlights the hosts' enthusiasm for family and the joy of witnessing new relationships blossom.

4. Listener Mailbag: Celebrating Love and Seeking Matchmaking (06:11 - 10:28)

In the Mailbag segment, the hosts engage with their listeners' messages:

• Mikey from Malacito celebrates his recent marriage and his spouse's unexpected $250 million inheritance, prompting heartfelt congratulations from the hosts.

  "Wow." (06:47)

• Giovanni seeks assistance with matchmaking, expressing his desire to find a beautiful partner to complement his successful career. Mrs. Truffles and Mr. Truffles respond with encouragement, offering to send chocolate gifts and suggest potential matches.

  "We might look the other way on that one, but we're just hoping their marriage survives butter crunch troubles." (03:47)

The segment underscores the podcast's focus on love, community, and the sweet ties that bind them.

5. Main Interview: David and Patricia Mastrandrea’s 52-Year Love Story (10:28 - 32:21)

The heart of the episode features an in-depth interview with David and Patricia Mastrandrea, a couple married for 52 years, who share their remarkable journey of enduring love and mutual growth.

a. First Meeting and Spiritual Connection (12:00 - 18:57)

Mr. Truffles recounts how he and Mrs. Truffles met David and Patricia during a visit to an apple orchard, leading to an engaging introduction.

"I thought they really like each other because however many years they've been together, he still is being incredibly attentive." (12:07)

Patricia describes their serendipitous meeting at the Esalen Institute, a spiritual retreat center, where their shared interests in philosophy and personal growth laid the foundation for their relationship.

"I saw the last person drive up, get out of her car... when she spoke, it was really soft and gentle, and her eyes." (16:15)

David emphasizes the instant connection, highlighting how their spiritual pursuits and mutual support deepened their bond.

"I want to be this happy all the time. I just want to be this happy." (22:22)

b. Building a Life Together (18:58 - 26:04)

The couple discusses their academic and professional backgrounds, their involvement with the Esalen Institute, and their commitment to each other’s personal and spiritual growth. Patricia shares her diverse interests in athletics, music, and academics, while David reflects on his career in finance and technology.

"We just went to City hall and just did it. We just got married." (24:19)

Their minimalist and spiritual approach to marriage underscores their deep commitment over conventional festivities.

c. Secrets to Enduring Love (26:04 - 32:21)

When asked about the secret to their lasting marriage, David and Patricia offer heartfelt advice centered around maintaining excitement, staying open to new experiences, and supporting each other through challenges.

"I'm never bored. I can never be bored with David. He's always something new or something, you know, creative or something unexpected." (27:46)

"To be patient with those times when it's cycling down... steadfast and support each other, not lose your grounding." (31:12)

They also emphasize the importance of strong beginnings, effective communication, and resilience in facing life’s unpredictable challenges.

"How are you dealing with that and are you preparing yourself to deal with that and help not only yourself, but others." (31:36)

Their story exemplifies how mutual respect, shared values, and unwavering support can sustain a relationship through decades.

6. Hosts’ Light-Hearted Banter and Conclusion (32:21 - 35:05)

As the interview concludes, Mr. Truffles and Mrs. Truffles engage in playful dialogue reminiscing about the 1970s and reflecting on the wisdom shared by David and Patricia. They express gratitude towards their guests and their daughter-in-law, Annabelle, who facilitated the interview.

"They are so sweet. They are pure love." (34:32)

The hosts wrap up the episode by reiterating their appreciation for enduring love stories and teasing future episodes, all while maintaining the warm, affectionate tone that defines their podcast.

7. Key Takeaways

• Enduring Love: David and Patricia's story exemplifies the power of spiritual connection, mutual support, and adaptability in sustaining a long-term relationship.

• Community and Connection: The episode highlights the deep relationships within the Beverly Hills community and the impactful role of shared experiences and products, like their chocolates, in fostering connections.

• Personal Touch: The hosts’ genuine interactions and personal anecdotes create an engaging and relatable atmosphere, inviting listeners to celebrate love in its many forms.

Notable Quotes

• "The champagne truffle is like the go-to romantic gift... for some people's marital happiness sometimes depends on it." — Mrs. Truffles (03:09)

• "I want to be this happy all the time. I just want to be this happy." — David Mastrandrea (22:22)

• "To be patient with those times when it's cycling down... steadfast and support each other, not lose your grounding." — Patricia Mastrandrea (31:12)

• "We're so lucky to have you join us today and share your beautiful love story with us." — Mrs. Truffles (32:15)

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For those who haven't listened to this episode, For Love and Chocolate offers a heartfelt exploration of love's nuances, enriched by the sweet allure of fine Swiss chocolates. Join Tommy and Tara Gallop as they delve into inspiring love stories and foster connections within their vibrant Beverly Hills community.

Transcript

[Mr. Truffles]

From deep in the heart of Beverly Hills, you found For Love and chocolate with Mr. And Mrs. Truffles. Well, welcome back, everybody.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Welcome back to the podcast.

[Mr. Truffles]

You know, it's interesting because our neighborhood, you know, the summer is all about tourists and travelers and day trippers. And now that the tourists have kind of left LA and Beverly Hills, all of the locals are back and school is back and the weather is starting to drop and we have all of our regulars coming back. There's new construction in the neighborhood. There's that bustle of. I mean, I can't believe I'm saying it, but we're going to be entering the holiday season.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, you know what? There's just this feeling in the air that it's autumn now.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You know, I can feel it. And there is. You know, everybody's going back to school. They're getting their teeth clean. They're getting to their regular checkups. We're a block west of Rodeo Drive, which brings in a lot of celebrities and fancy people. But we're also a block east of Bedford Drive.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Which is where they all go for their medicine.

[Mr. Truffles]

Doctors, plastic surgeons. And it really is the street. It's the street.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It is those things.

[Mr. Truffles]

And we're smack dab in the middle of all of it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

In between there, we've got William Morris Endeavor.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Store. And we've got the big auction houses on our street. Across the street from Jose Bear Chipriani's. Mr. Chow.

[Mr. Truffles]

Mr. Chow's.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And we've got a fat, fabulous new restaurant open up at the end of the street, which is almost ready for grand opening.

[Mr. Truffles]

Can't wait.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Looking gorgeous.

[Mr. Truffles]

And then we've got. Three streets over, we've got Cannon Drive, which is Restaurant Row.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, I mean, that's, you know, if you want a Kardashian spotting, just hang out over there for an evening. So, you know, it's just kind of remarkable how we're in the middle of this big flurry of activities. And so it's not that surprising when you see paparazzi walking around with their giant cameras. And the other day, they were outside our shop. Yes, they were, because we had someone very special in our shop. And I won't say any names, but there were at least three paparazzi out there. So if you look around on tmz, you'll probably see them. But the problem with this very famous person was if you see them, they don't look very happy.

[Mr. Truffles]

Nope. And everyone's always happy when they leave our shop.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Except we had a little problem with our shipment from Zurich this week because they forgot to include. For some reason, there was a glitch, and our milk butter crunch truffles did not make it onto the airplane tragedy. I mean, this could lead to civil unrest in the streets.

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm not looking forward to the next few days, I'll be honest. Because when we don't have people's favorites, all hell breaks loose.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, and this particular truffle is a lot of people's favorites. And the thing is, the champagne truffle is like the go to romantic gift. It's the. The truffle that says, I love you. But then there's the personal stash.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And the milk butter crunch truffle. Really? That is a lot of people's happy place. Their little personal stash.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, my goodness.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They come in and they just buy boxes.

[Mr. Truffles]

They order pounds at a time.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, this particular couple, you know, we were really hoping to maybe get them on the podcast. They don't quite make the 20 year, like, cutoff that we usually look for in a couple, but they're so fabulous.

[Mr. Truffles]

We might look the other way.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We might look the other way on that one, but we're just hoping their marriage survives butter crunch troubles.

[Mr. Truffles]

When we. I mean, not only did his face fall, but he got very serious. It was like, almost like an audition. Because he said, you kidding with the not. I mean, you guys have it in back. And we're like, no, I.

[Mrs. Truffles]

They're fresh. We don't keep a backstop.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. And then he said, I don't know if I can go home without him. I was like, well, I mean, I've got other options. She's like, no. He cut me off. No, it's milk butter crunch or bust for us. And I'm gonna go home, and I'm not gonna have him, and I'm gonna catch hell and be in the doghouse. It's not my fault. And I said, do you want me to call her and explain? And he said, would you? And he was kidding, of course. But it just goes to show you how personal and connected our customers with our chocolate. It's that good.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It is. And it's really, you know, telling that, you know, some people's marital happiness sometimes depends on it.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yep.

[Mrs. Truffles]

There's another couple whose happiness is a little more important to me right now.

[Mr. Truffles]

Than Mrs. That be Mrs. Treffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, I'm very excited. We're very excited. And I think you know why? Because our daughter Marley is bringing her new boyfriend to dinner. Tonight.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes. Go, Marley, go.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So Mr. Truffles will be put. Pulling out all the stops. We're doing barbecue.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We're giving the dogs baths.

[Mr. Truffles]

Dogs are getting baths. It's a big, big deal.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes, it's a very big deal. It's always a big deal when you bring someone home to meet your parents.

[Mr. Truffles]

I know. And you know what? I think we give good parent. Don't you think?

[Mrs. Truffles]

We do. And our dogs present well.

[Mr. Truffles]

They do.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. A bit of bow tie on Phineas.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah, A little doggy downer to make sure they're a little calmer than usual.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes. And this young man is bringing the dessert, so he's excited to meet with us, too.

[Mr. Truffles]

I think so.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. So that's going to be a really fun evening and hopefully the beginning of something new and beautiful for all of us.

[Mr. Truffles]

Just, we love to watch love blossom, and when it's with our own kids.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, that's the best. Yes, we love love. We love seeing our children in love. And speaking of love, I think you know what time it is.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, is it time?

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's time.

[David Mastrandrea]

Mailbag.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, what's the first thing in our mailbag today?

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, well, this is from Mikey in malacito.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Mr. Truffles]

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, I've been in love with Bridget since the day I met her. And after two years together, I finally proposed. She said yes, and we got married. On our honeymoon, she shared with me that she recently inherited $250 million. I don't have any questions. I just wanted to share that with you. Sincerely, Mr. Lucky Duck.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Wow.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, Mikey.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, good for you. God bless you both.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes, thank you for sharing. And please send us your address so we can come visit you for dinner in your manse.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Well, Mr. Truffles, what else have we got in our mailbag today?

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, Mrs. Truffles, this comes from Giovanni. And Giovanni writes, Dear Mr. And Mrs. Truffles, I am a frequent visitor to your shop since I moved from Italy a year ago. Giovanni.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Hi, Giovanni.

[Mr. Truffles]

Giovanni, I've been enjoying your podcast very much, but I'm wondering, since you'd keep talking about matchmaking, if you can possibly help me. I have a good career here and a romantic heart, and I very much would love to find a beautiful woman to make my new life here complete. Grazie, Giovanni.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, Giovanni, I really do think we can help you, but you should be forewarned.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yes. Another bright, another June, another sunny honeymoon.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Another season, another reason for making appear a lot of shoes, a lot of rice, the Groom is nervous, he answers twice.

[Mr. Truffles]

It's really killing that he's so willing to make whoopee. He's washing dishes and baby clothes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

He's so ambitious. He even sews.

[Mr. Truffles]

But don't forget, folks.

[Mrs. Truffles]

That's what you get, folks. All right, Giovanni, well, thanks for writing in. And we will be sending you a little chocolate gift and the names of a few fabulous girls that you can call. Now, this next couple that we're going to have on today, they know all about making whoopi.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah, they have been making whoopi for a long, long time. This is David and Patricia Mastrandrea. They met in October of 1969. It was love at first sight and they have been inseparable for the last 55 years. Patricia blossomed from a pianist and English literature student into a multifaceted traveler. Founder of a school for kids, environmental entrepreneur, co founder of a company, head of a university parent club, and environmental researcher. David acknowledged the mentors and friends who encouraged him to follow his dreams by going side by side with Patricia on travels, taking him into the worlds of finance, technology, both interactive and virtual, running a tech company, real estate development, construction and asset management. They're very grateful for their wonderful family and they have so much love in their lives. And we'll be right back with their wonderful romantic story. For over 40 years, Toysher has been a staple in the Beverly Hills community. Like so many other families in the community, our family has had a long standing love affair with toysher chocolates. Over the years, we formed traditions and memories around these extraordinary with chocolates and the enchanting wonderland of fantasy truffle boxes inside our store. Today, our family is proud to be carrying on the Teutscher tradition in Beverly Hills. And we're back.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We're back. Welcome back.

[Mr. Truffles]

Welcome back, everyone. So we are actually recording from our Airstream studios.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It is such a pleasure to have our new friends here at the Airstream studios with us.

[Mr. Truffles]

And I think the story about how we actually met is pretty extraordinary. We were at a little apple orchard, flower you picket place here in Avila beach, and I just noticed, just kind of under this beautiful tree, there was a young man who was giving his wife a chair massage. And I thought, I think they really like each other because they're however many years they've been together, he still is being incredibly attentive. And she doesn't seem to be hating it. I'll be honest, Mrs. Truffles, she was not hating that massage. And so of course, I introduced myself because I am Mr. Friendly Pants Push came to shove, I got him in a headlock and I said, yes, you are going to do our podcast. And he put up his white flag and he relented. And now here we have David and Patricia Mastrandrea. Welcome to the show, guys.

[David Mastrandrea]

Thank you.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Thank you for inviting us.

[Mr. Truffles]

Of course. I know. I heard a little bird told me that as much as you wanted to do the show, it was actually your daughter in law who promised to buy you dinner tonight that got you here.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Is that fair?

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[David Mastrandrea]

She wants to know all the details.

[Mr. Truffles]

She wants to know all the details, isn't it?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I want to know all the details. How long have you two been married?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

52 years.

[Mr. Truffles]

52 years. That's a prize right there, isn't it?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Wow.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So let's get into it. Tell us, how did you two very first meet?

[David Mastrandrea]

David was still at Stanford going into his senior year and he, as a job managed the Esalen at Stanford program.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Really?

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Wow.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Love Esalenner.

[David Mastrandrea]

I had done. Oh, I do too. Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

The Esalon Institute for people who aren't Familiar is an extraordinary retreat center up in Big Sur, California. It was founded in the early 60s by a couple of groovy Stanford men. They feature natural hot springs, yoga, meditation, and various types of esoteric workshops and lectures. For those of you who saw Mad Men, it's where Don Draper had his big epiphany.

[David Mastrandrea]

I had done some of the other workshops. They were quite expensive and I noticed that if I went to Esalen at Stanford, it would be a lot cheaper. Actually, I had signed up for a workshop with Gabrielle Roth, who is a creative dancer. There's still dancers in this area that dance according to her philosophy. She's no longer with us, but there's people that do that. It's a movement.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[David Mastrandrea]

As well as movement.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It's a movement.

[David Mastrandrea]

Movement, yes. Got it. So, David, you can take it to me.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

I was using faculty staff housing. There's some beautiful homes that we were having access to and one of them was in Portola Valley. Really nice, cute place. Enough area for Gabrielle to do her teaching. I got a call from Gabrielle and she said, david, I can't come. I'm pregnant. My doctors said I have to stop moving. And I said, okay, no problem. We can just refund the tickets and reschedule this to next year. So I promptly and tracked down almost everybody and they said, oh, great, sure, that we understand that completely. And then there were four people that I couldn't reach, so I had to go to the home there and just wait for those to show. Well, three of them showed. The fourth, I said, well, I've got the names of these people. The fourth is a woman. Maybe I'll get lucky and to meet someone. And I'd come back from Italy, and I'd had not done any romantic involvement. Dry return. But I really wasn't going to settle. So I was waiting. And lo and behold, I saw the last person drive up, get out of her car and start walking toward the entrance. I said, oh, my God. It was just that an angel had landed and appeared to me like out of a Botticelli painting or something. And then when she spoke, it was really soft and gentle, and her eyes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Oh, my God. It was a long drive from San Francisco to Portola Valley. I invited her. And so you were.

[Mr. Truffles]

You were a little nervous meeting her.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

But I was a little nervous, yeah. We sat on the couch talking. I already know that this is going to work. I mean, brains and beauty. Hey, I just have to be compassionate, kind, respectful, and just relax and talk a minute. Totally.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's something. Wow. I love how you painted that picture of how you first are. Because I. You took me back to the moment because I'm sitting here with you and you talk about her eyes and that she was just an angel that appeared. It's so sweet. That's so. I mean, that's why we do these, right? It's not. It's. It's to hear the stories of people that had been in love their whole lives and that seminal moment of seeing them for the first time. And for you, Patricia, he was just another guy, right?

[David Mastrandrea]

No, no. He was beautiful, too. And he just. I knew him.

[Mr. Truffles]

You knew?

[David Mastrandrea]

I. Absolutely.

[Mr. Truffles]

Like you had known him your whole life?

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes, I knew.

[Mr. Truffles]

And without saying a word?

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Wow. Isn't that incredible? And had you ever experienced that before?

[David Mastrandrea]

No.

[Mr. Truffles]

And you guys are early 20s at this time, right?

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So you sat there talking. How long did you two sit and talk for?

[Mr. Truffles]

Well, apparently, 52 years.

[David Mastrandrea]

For a while. And I don't know how you started to rub my neck.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Just got a long drive back. I can sense you might enjoy a little back robe.

[Mr. Truffles]

Look at you.

[David Mastrandrea]

And he has healing hands.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

I do.

[David Mastrandrea]

Truly has healing hands. People attest to that touch. I mean, it's an amazing touch.

[Mr. Truffles]

You met. You spent the evening together.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Right. But I am curious as to the first kiss. Do you remember the first kiss? David shaking his head yes.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Well, of course. I mean, it was as soon as possible, so I didn't really want that evening to end.

[Mr. Truffles]

No.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

We were affectionate.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

And. And we had our first kiss the evening before she left. They go home.

[Mr. Truffles]

And you were getting all the signals that it would be okay to kiss her, right? Oh, yes.

[David Mastrandrea]

Oh, yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

This was 1970, when you were 1969.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

So, you know, a lot of whirlwind things going on in that.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes. And openness to many, many things.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Expanded minds.

[Mr. Truffles]

Right. And you're kind of somewhat in the epicenter. Yes. Right there in the Bay Area.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

That's right.

[David Mastrandrea]

Oh, yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

How incredible.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Because that spiraled into those kind of epicenter. Things that were going on, we'd go to Esalen, we'd go to the concerts in San Francisco. You know, incredible talents.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yeah.

[Mr. Truffles]

Would you call yourselves hippies?

[David Mastrandrea]

You know, our daughter in law used that word. And you can't be at Stanford and be a true hippie. I'm sorry, I gotta.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

I grew up in a Catholic family, very strong Catholic family, like going back 900 years. And so we were expected to be a certain way and do certain things. So I did that. It's very good, very good athletic capabilities. I played instruments and I played football, basketball, baseball. You know, I was in the band. They wanted me on the football team. And I said, okay, well, I'm going to do both. They said, well, no one's ever done both, so I'm going to do that. So I would change into halftime and from my football uniform, marching band uniform.

[Mr. Truffles]

And go out and do that.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Yes. And then I'd go back in the locker room, put on my football gear.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You were still at Stanford when you two met?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Yeah, we were there, but this was high school. This is high school now. I'm just in high school. Then I'm doing really well. I get this award, athlete scholar of the year. And I get an appointment from my congressman to go to Annapolis. And I applied to Stanford. And then I go, well, you know, this is like this engineering astronaut trajectory. And so they, they sent me over to the naval station to get tests for physical capabilities. I talked to them about astronauts and they said, oh, you could do that? I said, well, okay, great. And then I got to Stanford, I was in engineering, and then I was accepted to the Stanford in Italy at Florence. And I went there and I said, oh man, I can get my engineering later. I love all this architecture, art history, anthropology, incredible philosophy. You know, at that time there's a lot of talk. You've got to explore your inner psychophysical, your secret places, your creativity. And I go, okay, that's me. I got to do that. I Started that process. And then Esalen, Mike Murphy, and Dick Price, who started it, said, we need a student. And they said, dave, you got to take this program, Become director of the Stanford at Esalen program, because that'll be opening it up to a whole new group of people, not just Esalen people. So we got all kinds of people coming in. Then I explored why these people were teaching gestalt and body movement and bioenergetics and Ralphie and Buddhist philosophy and all kinds of things. You know, that led me to say, I've got to find somebody who is at my level, and I can do this with a partner. And then, boom. The opportunity when I came back from Italy was just suddenly presented, and I knew right away Patricia was my life partner, and I just hoped she would let me in, reciprocate.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, you moved from a little conversation into a back massage. Hey, friendly.

[David Mastrandrea]

The healing hands.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And did you turn around and drive back to San Francisco that same day, or did you.

[David Mastrandrea]

No, I didn't. No, I didn't.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So you both stayed home?

[David Mastrandrea]

I followed him home, yes. And stayed the night and then went back the next day. But all the way home, all I could think of was, I want to be this happy all the time. I just want to be this happy. And I don't want anything else I've been doing. I want to be this happy. And it was. It was just like night and day. Like, wow, Suddenly everything changed.

[Mr. Truffles]

I've never heard anyone say that after just spending a little time with someone.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

I just. Not this is the one for me, but I just always want to be this happy.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So. Went back home the next day.

[David Mastrandrea]

I did.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And how long was it before you two saw each other again?

[David Mastrandrea]

The next week, because I signed up for another workshop and went back. From then on, it was just.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It was on.

[David Mastrandrea]

It was on. It was definitely on.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Not that I didn't have a lot of competition for her attention.

[David Mastrandrea]

The wonderful thing about it, too, is that David had access to all these people, including Tibetan lamas who were, you know, Tibetan Buddhist llamas. I had been looking into Zen Buddhism very seriously, Actually, much more in line with my thinking as a Presbyterian rather than a Catholic.

[Mr. Truffles]

Got it.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes. Yes. And it was. The Zen center was going strong. I met all kinds of people there. So we kind of had these different ways of coming to something that was the same.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

We had all these things in common.

[Mrs. Truffles]

It sounds like you were both embarking on a spiritual journey and wanted somebody.

[David Mastrandrea]

To walk that with you. Yes, yes, yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Did you know my Baba Ram Dass.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

David did very well.

[David Mastrandrea]

More than.

[Mr. Truffles]

More than.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

When he came back from India. He. Another gentleman who was quite a close friend of his from Harvard and then Stanford. And he said, dave, you gotta come with me. Richard Alpert's coming back from India. We're gonna see him when he gets off the plane and we're gonna hang out with him. So, yeah. Yeah. He was telling the fresh stories, Right. To Ralph Metzner and I. Ralph Metzner, Yeah. Just like, wow, that's interesting. That's great.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. Well, that's. That's amazing. So how long was it before marriage was proposed, and how did that happen?

[David Mastrandrea]

Well, we had been living together for what, three years?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[David Mastrandrea]

And we were quite interested in moving into a Tibetan Buddhist center with a lama as our teacher. And it just seemed prudent to be actually married. So we. We just went to City hall and just did it.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes.

[David Mastrandrea]

Just an elopement.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yes.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

We moved in together and got a nice little place, and then we. We know we're going to be together. We just wanted to celebrate this as much as possible, the two of us, and not, you know, show off or a lot of presents. We didn't need that. We just needed to be together and to pursue this journey.

[Mrs. Truffles]

How was the marriage proposed? Who proposed it and how did that happen?

[David Mastrandrea]

Can you remember?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

I was continually proposing for three years while we lived together, because I would do it through poetry. And we started playing music together. People give Patricia so much. She's just like. Is an open, giving person herself. She's accomplished musician, and people give me things, too. So I got a lot of cool instruments. Tambouras and dal Rupas and 12 string guitars. And I said, oh, I gotta play with you. I started with accompanying her on the piano, and then I said, well, this is like a marriage, and I'd use that as a in. I said, here's a poem I wrote. And she's a very intelligent person. And she's like, is this something we should do?

[David Mastrandrea]

She's gonna.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

And she typically waits. She used to wait more. But now together we know. We reinforce each other when we know, like, meeting you guys yesterday, I have.

[David Mastrandrea]

More confidence when I'm with him because he's the outer one.

[Mr. Truffles]

He's a bit of an extrovert.

[David Mastrandrea]

Goes right out there.

[Mr. Truffles]

He's a bit of an extra one.

[David Mastrandrea]

Just like you, Tom.

[Mr. Truffles]

I'm a little bit of a friendly person.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You used your art to propose to her?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yes. Amazing. And so after three years of that, you finally said, it seems like it's time.

[David Mastrandrea]

That's good.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Let's just keep it between us. I mean, you're kind of going through this spiritual journey, and you're on this kind of Zen wavelength.

[David Mastrandrea]

Right.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And so you kind of want to keep it Zen.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Minimalist.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So you went down to the city hall, and you just. Did you write your own vows? Did you just say what they told you to say?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

We wrote our own vows.

[David Mastrandrea]

It was a very deep, deep commitment and a very deep connection, and we just wanted to honor that, and our.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Families all accepted us wholeheartedly.

[David Mastrandrea]

And your dad did say, I wish I had been there.

[Mr. Truffles]

But that was also. At the time, that was kind of the flavor of the day. A lot of. A lot of couples were doing that. Right. They were kind of keeping it very private and very unique and special.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Did you guys take any kind of a honeymoon after you married?

[David Mastrandrea]

We felt like we were on a honeymoon. We were on our honeymoon. It was just amazing to be.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So what was the first, like, real romantic trip you took together?

[David Mastrandrea]

Which kind of trip are we talking about? Oh, my God. Sorry.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, it's the late 60s, sweetie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Okay.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

All sorts of. Very true.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes. Yes. And through a spiritual lens, actually. Very much so. Yes.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

I like that.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

I mean, we. We ourselves. I wouldn't call it an elopement, but we got married during COVID Oh.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We got married in the middle of the lockdowns.

[David Mastrandrea]

Well, so many choices.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. We. It was just the two of us with our puppy. We had a puppy and a friend God ordained. So you guys have been married all these years together, and you've walked a spiritual journey together, and you're still clearly madly in love.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So tell us, what is the little secret ingredient that keeps everything just going?

[David Mastrandrea]

I'm never bored. I can never be bored with David. He's always something new or something, you know, creative or something unexpected. Yes. So it's just amazing. It's really amazing. You have to just stay open. Our grandchild, one of them, he gets on David's case a little bit because David's out making friends when they're together, and he said, you don't know anybody that's not a friend. But he wanted Grandpa's time a little bit, I think.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[David Mastrandrea]

Part. It's both. He admires the ability.

[Mr. Truffles]

Right.

[David Mastrandrea]

But he also wants a little bit more time, a little more focus. Yeah. Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So sweet.

[David Mastrandrea]

You're so blessed. We are.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Yeah. She's so sweet. See, the thing is, with me, yeah. I felt I was something. And then I realized I Wasn't. I went to Stanford and there were a lot of people that were better than me and smarter than me, and I was one of it was not that I was unusual. And so what I found was with Patricia, she's. She's taken that something and made me realize that compassionate, loving, kind, respectful, philosophical person who is always there for people.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, right.

[David Mastrandrea]

And like you said, Tara has the biggest heart of anyone, you know?

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[David Mastrandrea]

Well, David has a huge heart. And if someone is sick or, you know, disabled in some way, he feels no reserve with those people. He just right there and talks to help be present. And he is present. He's totally present. It's an amazing ability to have sex.

[Mr. Truffles]

That's something you're born with, you know, that is something. I mean, in the same way that you saw an angel land. I'm sure she felt the same way about you, you know, when she first saw you. There's just you. You guys both put off a really beautiful aura, you know, and it's. It's almost like a vortex that just sucks us. And we can't help but feel the love and the connection and the authenticity and the compassion. It's. It's a beautiful thing.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mrs. Truffles]

So if you could give one piece of advice to your grandchildren or your children about how to find love that endures, what would that piece of advice be?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Well, I was. I was thinking, I woke up last night, I said, that's a. Have. Have a lot of sex the first seven years.

[David Mastrandrea]

But once that child is born, it gets harder.

[Mrs. Truffles]

You're saying, like, create a really strong foundation in the beginning?

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Absolutely.

[David Mastrandrea]

No, absolutely.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

Yeah.

[David Mastrandrea]

That's because there's going to be all kinds of challenges. You know, challenges happen. And we were in the God realms. You know what that's like to be in the God realm. We know enough about life that you can't be in the God realm forever. In a certain kind of way, there's going to be challenges. I kept thinking, oh, I have to have some way of understanding when the cycle cycles. And then it comes back and you're in the God realm again. And, you know, so you have to be patient with those times when it's cycling down.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes. And steadfast and support each other, not lose your grounding.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

To that, I'd add, we've experienced suffering, sickness. There's things that come through that you don't know are going to happen, and then they happen. And how are you dealing with that? Are you preparing yourself to deal with that and. And help not only yourself, but Others.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Sweet, wonderful.

[Mr. Truffles]

I wish that our listeners could kind of see what we're seeing, which is when we asked the question of what advice you would give. I don't know if you saw this, sweetheart, but David kind of slipped his arm into Patricia's nook and squeezed. Because that connection is. It's just undeniable, you know, and it's such a beautiful thing to see. I mean, married 52 years, put together 55.

[David Mastrandrea]

Yes.

[Mr. Truffles]

Right. As in love today as the first day you met. You know, it's such. It's such a pleasure.

[Patricia Mastrandrea]

We're so lucky.

[David Mastrandrea]

We are so lucky.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

We're lucky to have you join us today and share your beautiful love story with us. Thank you so much.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah. We'll be right back with more for love and show. This podcast is being brought to you by Beverly Hills Toy Chocolates of Switzerland. Beverly Hills Toysher, at 371 North Camden Drive in Beverly Hills, has been serving up truffles, pralines, dipped fruits, marzipans, and our world famous chocolate bars for over 40 years. So next time you're in Beverly Hills, why don't you come by and visit or shop online at Beverly Hills Toy Shirt. Oh, wasn't that groovy?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Oh, baby. I just. I feel at one with the universe for having just spent time with them, don't you?

[Mr. Truffles]

And you know what I mean, I listen to them and I try to put myself there. I mean, the 70s, for me, it was all about puka shells and mood rings and Manwich sandwiches. Why are you looking at me like that?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I just love that you had to reach and struggle for the word Manwich sandwiches.

[Mr. Truffles]

You probably never had a Manwich.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I don't even know what that is.

[Mr. Truffles]

Don't knock it till you try it, sweetie.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Gross.

[Mr. Truffles]

But you know what I'm saying.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I don't eat anything that has the word man in it.

[Mr. Truffles]

The sandwich, though, was special. But the 70s, I bet you were adorable. You probably had big tails.

[Mrs. Truffles]

I was a baby. What are you talking about?

[Mr. Truffles]

Right? You weren't even here. Weren't you? You were born in 89, weren't you, sweetie? No, but the 70s were. They were special.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah, I remember the 70s. My parents were smoking weed, their friends were all taking psychology classes, and my mom had test press copies of the Doors album from a friend of hers who worked in the studio.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, is that right?

[Mrs. Truffles]

Yeah. No, I lived in Southern California in the 70s.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, well, I was in St. Louis, and I was part of the Kiss army, and I put smoke bombs in my acoustic guitar. We were different, you and me. Do you think we would have been friends in the 70s?

[Mrs. Truffles]

I think you would have been dipping my pigtails in the inkwell.

[Mr. Truffles]

Okay, I don't even. Is that. Whoa. I am definitely getting hot and bothered. Yeah. No, it was. What a great, great interview. It was a real loving couple, wasn't it?

[Mrs. Truffles]

They are so sweet. They are pure love.

[Mr. Truffles]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Truffles]

And I'd like to give a shout out and a big thank you to their lovely daughter in law, Annabelle.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, Annabelle, without you, this never happens.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Never would have happened. Thank you so much. And we'll be sending a little extra chocolate gift out to you, too.

[Mr. Truffles]

Oh, yeah. So that's all we got for this week, gang. But guess what? We're going to do it again next week. Until then, say goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mrs. Truffles]

Goodbye, Mrs. Truffles.

[Mr. Truffles]

This show is brought to you by Beverly Hills toysher Chocolates of Switzerland, home of the world's first and finest champagne trucks. Join us next week for more adventures in everlasting love.