The Untouchables

I chose the specialty of surgery because of Matron, that steady presence during my boyhood and adolescence. “What is the hardest thing you can possibly do? She said when I went to her for advice on the darkest day of the first half of my life.

“Why settle for ‘Three Blind Mice’ when you can play the ‘GLORIA’?”
“…Your ‘GLORIA’ lives within you. The greatest sin is not finding it, ignoring what God made possible in you.”
-Abraham Verghese
CUTTING FOR STONE

Twenty-five years ago today:

June 5, 1987
Friday

Chris Cordellos called me and we talked about meeting-up next Monday to see the new movie THE UNTOUCHABLES.

Carla and I ate at Don Miguel’s. After lunch I made a quick visit to my old SDC (Sales Development Center) office at Pacific Bell to see Laverne. The SDC now looks like a maze. The desks are all enclosed now. It does seem more private for the representatives though.

I’ve been taking the bus to work. I am beginning to like this mode of commuting. It requires less brain power and I can concentrate on other things.

During my walk home from the bus stop I ran into Sherri and Ashley who were on a bike ride together.

I made it to the gym and spoke to my old high-school classmate, Dennis Darby, about our forthcoming high-school reunion.
Dennis said, “Yeah, I’m going.”
“Yeah, it should be pretty mind-boggling.”
“Maybe so, but I haven’t changed much…except for gaining a little weight,” Dennis said.
I thought that odd because he wasn’t bald ten years ago.
“At least we’re at the gym,” I agreed.
Dennis added, “I lost about twenty pounds in the last two or three weeks.”

There’s a guy from Alameda High’s Class of 1978 (a year younger than me) that I also recognized at my gym. His name is Cliff Farina. He gained weight, too. He was always tall and slender. Of course, the fact that he is tall helps him. The weight gain isn’t as apparent. I am feeling good about how I am coming along. I just have to continue to maintain my waistline.

Much to my surprise Rachelle Davies appeared at the gym tonight. She looked good when I saw her in the sauna with her bathing suit.
“Why don’t you take the aerobics class tonight?” Rachelle asked.
“Oh, I don’t know…I already worked out.”
“Oh come on,” she persisted.
“I’ll think about it.”
I didn’t take the class.

Scott Lauer (of OHIO) was around. We talked a bit. In fact, we left the gym together and ended up eating at THE WINE RACK in Alameda. We shared a bottle of wine and ate spaghetti and tortellini. It was filling—but good. It was a Friday night, so we ended up going to San Francisco to WOLFGANG’s, a nightclub. Steve Masters, the radio DJ for QUAKE radio, was there.
I asked Steve, “Could you play FREE NELSON MANDELLA” or “TOUR DE FRANCE”?

I met a couple of Scott’s navy pals who were also on the USS ENTERPRISE. Their names were Craig and Rob.

Scott and I took a peak at the FREAK EXECUTIVES band that was playing. We both agreed that they were ‘too loud’ and ‘not so great’.
Craig said, “There’s a LARGE MARGE hanging-out over there.”
I laughed because I never heard that term before (LARGE MARGE).

Scott and I left WOLFGANG’s for another place called THE PALLADIUM. It was a mistake. We blew $7 a piece because we didn’t know it was SOUL NIGHT. It was a disappointment but we stayed for about ten minutes. We decided to head over to North Beach and the BROADWAY area where we started to walk around. We ended up running into Craig and Rob again. Some girl randomly gave me a card to a party at the MARRIOT INN on Columbus.

Scott and I ended up persuading two eighteen year old girls to give us a ride to the hotel.
After Scott mentioned that he was in the Navy, one of the girls said, “My dad is a Sergeant with the San Francisco Police.”

I replied, “Oh, then we’re in good hands.”

They dropped us off at the MARRIOT INN on Columbus and the party was blown off. There was no party! Or if there was a party it had suddenly dissolved by the Hotel Management. We left and cruised around The City until we settled over near the Fisherman’s Wharf area. I saw three little mice run about and it freaked me out! We parked to use the bathroom at PIER 39 and cruised around in the car for a while longer until we decided to split-the-scene.

Scott ended up staying the night at my pad. I didn’t dare ‘make a move’ on him.  He's straight.  He's untouchable.  He slept in the spare guest room where I have all of my postcards posted on the walls.

Every gesture made by a human being is sacred and full of consequences, and that makes me think even more about what I’m doing.
-Paulo Coelho
LIKE THE FLOWING RIVER