Scoping the Scene

"Reality is NOT a French novel."

-as heard in the 1984 Argentine film, CAMILA

 

 

Diary Notes/Photos from April 22-28, 1988

I took every advantage of my mom’s babysitting time.  I wanted to join in on the fun and spend time with my nieces, too.   I had fun playing with them when my mom pooped out from their energetic ways.   I probably went a bit overboard on Friday, April 22, 1988 when I persuaded them to get on the rocking horse with me (as I set the timer to my Polaroid camera).   Well, I figured the photographic moment would last many years later.  

On Saturday, April 23, 1988 my mom came to my townhouse and I had a brainstorm idea.

“Uh oh, I haven’t taken a photo today.   Why don’t you take a picture of me on Mike’s motorcycle?”  I asked my mom.

“Okay,” mom replied in agreement.

Mike Miller had bought a motorcycle.   He didn’t ride it all the time but he seemed to get a good deal on the purchase.   I’d never ride it on the streets but I figured I could pose on it and ‘pretend’.   Mom took a good shot of me ‘looking tough’.

“Hey wait, mom…let me take a picture of you on the bike!”

“Eeeee…don’t be silly.”

And before I knew it she was complying with my request.

“Who knows when you’ll ever be on a motorcycle again?”
She laughed.   It was a cute photo.

After mom left I took a photo of myself upstairs because Paloma wanted a recent photo.   I wasn’t so sure I liked the photo.   I’ll have to dwell on it for a few days.

Later that evening 'Jim from the Gym' came by as we were planning to go out to a club or something.   Mike Miller was there and we shared a few LITE beers.   It was important to maintain our 32 inch waistlines.   That’s why we only drank LITE beer.   We had 'beer belly' fears.  The alcohol content still did the trick.   We laughed up a storm.  I managed to capture the three of us via Polaroid before the beers.

 Jim and I were excited about the forthcoming date of April 29^th.   We were going to a concert at the Shoreline Amphitheater.  It was the MUSIC FOR THE MASSES Concert.   I snapped another Polaroid of 'Mike and Jim'.  It was clear that the beer was beginning to circulate.

I don’t recall where Mike, me and Jim ended up going that night which proves the LITE beer alcohol content worked.    We always had a good time ‘scoping the scene’. 

And yes, the final photo clearly showed the effects of our beer alcohol content.  Mike's 'sunglasses at night' said it all.

The next day I took a picture of Mike Miller on his motorcycle.   He clearly looked more comfortable on the bike than I did (or my mom for that matter).   He even started the engine.   To look at the photo I wish one could hear the sound effects of the revved up engine.   Vroom.   Mike went for a short ride.   What a show-off!

It was a lazy Sunday on April 24, 1988.   I drove to San Ramon to pick-up Kelly.  

I drove back to Alameda and Jim from the Gym was due to arrive with Christine Hicks.   Mike Miller was there, too, cracking his salty jokes.   My mom even showed up and had a beer with all of us.   How cool of 'a mom' is that?   We were just laughing, having a great time.  I was just happy that I had enough MICHELOB LIGHT beers in my fridge.   I called them MICHAEL-Lobe Lights.

Kelly was leaving tomorrow to visit her brother (in San Diego), so it was nice that we all got together.

Kelly knew that Paloma wrote to me, so she made good on her word to drop me a postcard during her mini-escape.   It was not the most in-depth write-up but it’s the thought that counts.   She mailed the postcard from San Diego on April 25, 1988.

Kelly wrote:
Hey Mike,
What’s up?  The weather has been so-so.   One minute rain, the clouds move past the sun and then it’s HOT.   But I’m having a great time w/my brother, Tim.   How was your weekend?  
See ya,

Kelly

Hmmm…not even a
‘LOVE, Kelly’ or
‘I MISS YOU SO MUCH’. 
Oh well…I can’t win them all.   After all, the song of the week was WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GO by Whitney Houston.  I decided to be more optimistic though.  She'll be back.

A few days later on April 28, 1988 I chose to write a more in-depth letter.   I decided to write to Paloma in France.  She had previously sent me a copy of a letter from her Berkeley friend, Carmela.

Carmela wrote:
Paloma,
Yet another bit of news before I send this letter.  I just joined a new GOLD’s GYM in Albany.   They evaluate you and give you a computerized workout.    Every four weeks they evaluate you and give you a new workout.   I think my arms are getting much better.   Guess who I met there?  Mike, that blond bodybuilder you went out with.   His mom teaches aerobics and family fitness.   He is the manager at GOLD’s.   I also saw Rodney.  He works out there now.  He’s bigger, not as slender.  He works out really HARD now!   They both say “HI”.   Mike was saying what a great body you have! 
Jimmy just got a new Polaroid camera.   I want to take a picture of me flexed and cut.   I’ll send you some soon.
Love, Carmela
(Maria says “HI” too from the I-BEAM).

Paloma added a NOTE to me at the bottom of Carmela’s letter:

MIKE SOUTHWICK, remember?   The Baxter’s Champion Bodybuilder.  I told you I went out with him, right?   Ooops…maybe I forgot (LOL!).

Was I jealous?  Yes.   I knew she went out with that MIKE Bodybuilder dude!    Grr….I'll show her.   She gives me the incentive to try harder with my workouts.  She knows it, too.

I was overdue on a reply to Paloma after she’d send that cool card with the high-heel on the bike pedal.

PHOTO:  Paloma in Marbella, SPAIN (1986)

April 28, 1988,

Dear Paloma,
I love the card with the pump on the bicycle pedal.   It’s great.  You definitely know my taste.

My Nastassia Kinski has always been over my bed.   But that’s okay…we (unfortunately) did NOT spend a whole lot of time under it…if you catch my drift.

Well, next trip to France I’ll have to see Jonathan, Alexandre, your neighbor downstairs and your perfume collection.   That ought to keep me busy for a few days.  

I watched the Academy Awards, too.   I watched it the night I received the card from you in which you were mentioning CHER (ironically and coincidentally enough).   And to think she was the BEST ACTRESS for 1j987.   She deserved it.   I thought Glenn Close was going to win.   Did you see her in FATAL ATTRACTION?   She was really good.

Tomorrow I am going to a concert in Mountain View with Kelly, Mike Miller, Jim from the Gym and Chris Hicks (Kelly’s girlfriend).   Cathy (Kelly’s sister) and Cara (Cathy’s roommate) and Mike (Cara’s boyfriend) will also be attending.   We are going to see DEPECHE MODE and OMD (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark).   I can’t wait for that.  It will be fun.   They play modern music in case you haven’t heard of them.   It’s very NOUVEAU…as they say….

I should be biking right NOW but I figured ‘what the hell’.  Why should I?   I decided I should write you a few lines instead.

I have a picture to send you but the duplicate I had made isn’t quite ready yet.   So you will have to hold out until next time.

There was a Yellow Pages Directory Sales job opening in Sacramento.   I applied for it just so I could take the test and be ready for the next hopeful opening in San Francisco, Oakland or Santa Clara.   Now people are saying I should take it because it is possible for me to commute to Sacramento!   That is a one and a half hour commute!   I certainly don’t want to be on that road for three hours or more going to and from work every day.   No way.  Forget it!   I think writing it down just now made me decide against it.

I miss your smile and laughter.   Don’t dye your hair black…then you WILL look like CHER!   BE PALOMA!   By the way, there’s a new restaurant on University Avenue in Berkeley called PALOMA’s.   Do you believe it?   I guess the whole town of Berkeley noticed you were gone and decided to establish a restaurant in honor of you!

"Your eyes will suffice to give tired men hope."
-India guy to actress, Natalie Portman,
as heard in the 2008 film, I LOVE YOU, NEW YORK