Extraordinarily Affectionate

Music seems to produce specific emotional states that all people share, and as a result, it allows us to communicate our most intimate emotions without having to talk about or define them in a loose net of words.

Our pupils dilate and our endorphin level rises when we sing; music engages the whole body, as well as the brain, and there is a healing quality to it.
-Diane Ackerman
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 4, 1987
Monday

Carla did return to work today. She was very tan but she still looked rather tired.
I realized why when she said, “Oh Michael, I stayed out until three o’clock in the morning last night!”
“You’re too much!”
She laughed aloud.

Carla ditched me and took an early lunch. I ended up going to the cafeteria alone. I ordered a sandwich and returned upstairs. What a fool. It was such a beautiful day but I didn’t feel like walking around all by my lonesome.

I did get my seniority bridged today. My new NCS (Net Credited Service) date is now December 8, 1979. Hurrah. I also chose an additional week of vacation time. I selected another week in November for a total of three consecutive weeks at that time period. I intend on going to London during that time frame.

Work was a breeze today.  Our new person started working in the office today.  Her name is Louise Long. She’s black, big and wants to work the 8AM to 4PM shift. She and Vivian Adams will have that shift. Louise has a lot of seniority because she has worked at Pacific Bell for some time. I suppose I will have to remain with my 8AM to 4:30PM shift for the time being. It’s just as well.

I arrived home; feeling like a nap was in order when Chris Cordellos called me.
Chris asked, “Why don’t you come on over?”
“Well, I was going to go to the gym.”
“So…when do you want to get together?”
I asked, “How about Thursday?”
And so, he may come by to Alameda on Thursday and we may go see a flick.

Rachelle Davies called.
“I got word that you rode your bike over here last Saturday.”
“Yeah, I stopped by to see if you were home. I’m off to the gym now.”
“You are?”

“Yeah, so how about if I call you tomorrow and maybe we can meet up at the gym on Wednesday if you’re up for it.”
“Okay…and I may like to attend Ashley’s birthday party on Saturday, too.”
“That would be fun,” I answered without revealing my surprise.
I asked, “How are things going with you and Tommy?”
Tommy is supposedly her current beau.
Rachelle said, “Well, he’s not real affectionate…like you were.”
“No?”
“And he doesn’t talk much, so I wouldn’t say we’re the greatest friends.”
I thought this was complimentary for me. Did this mean I was extraordinarily affectionate when we were a solid item? And do I talk a lot? And were we great friends because of my being a chatter-box?

I drove to the gym listening to WITH OUR WITHOUT YOU by U2 as I thought about all that Rachelle had said.

I saw Dave Trapp, Russ and Angela while at the gym. I did my thing.
Kathy asked, “Have you seen Mark lately?”
I lied, “No.”

When I returned home I called Mark to tease him about the fact that Kathy is lusting after him.

I also called Fredericka and learned from her that DELTA Airlines has a cheap fare of $458 (round-trip) from San Francisco to Honolulu that departs on the 4th of July and returns on 7-11 (a sign of good luck). Should I go?

I watched Lucie Arnaz who appeared on JOAN RIVERS as a guest on THE TONIGHT SHOW. Then I went to bed.

I keep dwelling on the “FIRE” I shared with Rachelle. That is the perfect word to describe our relationship. Now I wonder if Eileen and I will ever have that “FIRE”. And for that matter…will Rachelle and I ever have it again?

“We can’t go back!”
-as heard in the 2011 motion-picture THE DEBT