My Favorite Winter Coat

I am a person who believes not only that you can change the future but, to some extent, the past.   If you elect to wipe out what has happened, pay it no mind, give it no room in your consciousness—why then, it didn’t happen.   I had decided to wipe that…OUT.
-Elizabeth Savage, THE LAST NIGHT AT THE RITZ

Diary Notes for early April 1988….

April 3, 1988
It is Easter Sunday and I will be experiencing a bit of EASTER fun at mom’s house.   A bit later I will be getting-together with Kelly for the evening.  

I walked over to visit my brother and Ashley was yelling for me in the bathroom.   She was in the tub with her little rubber duck.   Luckily, I had my Polaroid to capture the moment.  She was so happy and carefree (as most children are at that age).

John took Ashley to mom’s house.   Mom had hidden Easter baskets for Ashley and Lauren.   It was a festive, relaxed Sunday.   Sherri was still at KAISER Hospital and will likely be leaving with her newest baby soon.  They wanted to keep Holly under observation a bit longer.   That sounded 'spooky' but from the sound of it there is nothing to be concerned about.   Thank God.

I don’t know how my mom is so good at organizing these things while working full-time.   Somehow she does it.   I guess she’s just so comfortable with her job she finds a way.  
“I’m retiring soon,” Mom says.
“I can’t wait for that day.”

Ashley and Lauren found splendid entertainment while digging into their respective Easter baskets.

I asked mom, "Did you used to buy me Easter Baskets when I was a kid?"

"Of course I did."
"How come you stopped doing it?"

Mom laughed.

I took an opportunity to take a Polaroid moment of me in CONGRATULATIONS mode with my brother, John, after the birth of his new little girl (HOLLY) who was born yesterday.    I still cannot believe that both of my brother have two kids.   I know that I'm having 'my own' somewhere...any day now.   There's no point in bringing it up but I'm making a family very happy.   A woman is impregnated and that is all I know...for now.

Mom was having a good time.   I think we all were having fun.   It was one of those happy Sunday times.  Ashley and Lauren were growing up and beginning to be 'little people' who could talk.   I was excited to get to know the two newbies, Leigh and Holly.   Would their personalities be different?  

Ashley made me laugh because she was having a bit of a chocolate party.  

“Save the chocolate for another day, Ashley.   You don’t want to eat it all at once or you’ll feel sick in your tummy.”

Tony arrived with his new baby, LEIGH.  

“Wow, Lauren, that’s your little sister.  You better be extra nice to her,”  I whispered.

Lauren smiled shyly.

 

Kelly arrived at my place a bit later.   It was a cool night and I allowed her to wear the leather jacket I bought in Paris in 1985.    I still recall trying it on while Paloma looked on. 

Paloma said, “It’s gorgeous.”

And so, I bought it on the spot.   It’s really my ‘Paloma Jacket’.   She loved it, so I had to have it.   More importantly, she loved it as I was wearing it.   I doubt Paloma would be too thrilled that Kelly was wearing it tonight.   Oh well…what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.  

I took Kelly to a place on Harbor Isle that I call SKYLARK 24.   It has a breathtaking view of San Francisco.   It was chilly but I managed to warm her up.  

PHOTO:  'me' and Kelly (wearing My Favorite Winter Coat)

As I drove back to my place I turned on the radio and the HOT song of the month was playing:   MAN IN THE MIRROR by Michael Jackson.   The beginning of the song is inspiring to me.   He sings about ‘making a change’.   When I hear that word ‘change’ I always try to think of it as an ‘improvement’.   I’m Gonna Make an IMPROVEMENT…  The song is a sure fire hit, so I find myself dwelling on it.   I like how he mentions the turning up the collar on my favorite winter coat.   My favorite winter coat is the leather one I bought in Paris.  One of these days I’m going to look at myself in the mirror and listen to the entire song at the same time. 

Here are the lyrics to MAN IN THE MIRROR:

I'm Gonna Make a Change,
For Once in My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference, Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up the Collar on My Favorite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind, I See the Kids in the Street,
With Not Enough To Eat, Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul, They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know 'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love

It's Time That I Realize That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?
A Widow Deeply Scarred, Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream (Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me (Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

(Ooh!) I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror (Ooh!)

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . . (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .Change!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror, (Man In The Mirror-Oh Yeah!)

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Better Change!)
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer (If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time ‘Cause When You Close Your Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your Mind! (Then You Close Your . . .Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror (Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!) Gonna Feel Real Good Now! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah (Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .I'm Gonna Make A Change It’s Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On! Change . . .
Just Lift Yourself You Know You've Got To Stop It.  Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!) I've Got To Make That Change, Today!
Hoo! (Man In The Mirror) You Got To You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .Hoo! (Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To You've Got To Move! Come On! Come On!
You Got To . . .Stand Up! Stand Up! Stand Up! (Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift Yourself, Now! (Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Aaow! (Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .Come On!
(Man In The Mirror) You Know It! You Know It! You Know It!
You Know . . .(Change . . .) Make That Change.

April 11, 1988

It was Academy Award night and the chatter was exciting because it was being held at the SHRINE AUDITORIUM.   It was the first time the Academy Awards would be held here.   Chevy Chase of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE fame was the host.

It was amazing to me that THE LAST EMPEROR won all nine Oscars that it was nominated for.   It was an epic sort of film.  It deserved it.   Michael Douglas won for BEST ACTOR in WALL STREET.   He was a ruthless character and also deserved it.  

 

I was happy for CHER who won for BEST ACTRESS in MOONSTRUCK, she was likeable in that role.

 

The best part of the night was in the beginning when my hero, 007-James Bond won.   Yes, Sean Connery won BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR for his part in THE UNTOUCHABLES.    In my book it was a classic moment, long overdue.

“I’ve Had The Time of My Life” from DIRTY DANCING won.   That was a pretty cool moment.  I have a feeling it will be a remembered tune for a long time.   After all, we ALL yearn to have the time of our lives.

He had known where he was heading from the age of eighteen, he just hadn’t been quite sure how he was going to get there, or how long it would take.

-BETRAYAL Of Love and Freedom
by Paul Huljich, a novel (based on a little truth)