After Ted had made his decision to stop attending
the outragous parties of the social scene, he placed himself in a seclusion.
Having not been seen in public in months, a friend of his, Jed Mattes flew in
from New York. Mattes convinced Ted to leave the tower and join him for dinner
at Ted's favorite dinner the La Valencia. This same night there was a gala party
in full swing celebrating the opening of a new restraunt, and Mattes commented
"I'm glad I can give you an excuse not to go to a big bash." Ted
handed Mattes the following poem as he smiled "I don't need excuses
anymore, as far as this town is concerned, I'm already dead." The poem was
entitled:
I am Prepared
When I cross the Bar of the Great Blue Beyonder
I know that my Maker, without pause or ponder,
Will welcome my soul. For my record is scar-less
I've eaten no oysters in months that are R-less.
Mattes commented on the morbid theme, and Ted smiled again and
informed
him that he had written it half a century ago.