His Own Decisions

Questions are only useful when the answers will lead somewhere.

-Olen Steinhauer
THE NEAREST EXIT, a novel

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 16, 1987
Saturday

Suzy Miller came over to the townhouse at around 10AM.

Suzy and I left together for Park Street to eat at OLE’S WAFFLE SHOP. We both love the waffle and can never decide whether to order it or the ham and cheese omelet. After having breakfast we thought we’d be spontaneous and adventurous and drive up to Sacramento to see Suzy’s brother, Mike. Suzy was willing to drive.

PHOTO:  Me and Suzy, 1977 School Days

Suzy wrote in my HOUSE BOOK:

May 16, 1987
Dear Mike,
Well here I am again, a month before our high-school reunion. We went to OLE’S and bought our LOTTO Tickets…12 Million dollars at stake. I hope one of us wins. Well, see you around.
Take Care.
Love, Suzy

I also thought the drive to Sacramento would be a perfect opportunity to drop by Judy Geniella’s house to get my white jeans. Time passed so quickly and I wasn’t in my car, so I never did stop by to get my jeans.

Mrs. Miller was going to accompany us. It took forever because Mrs. Miller took so long to get ready. We stopped at SAFEWAY and also at TOYS R US in Richmond, CA.

We didn’t arrive in Sacramento until 5:30PM. Mike is living with a twenty-one year old semi-attractive lady who ‘was’ Greg Manachevitz’ sister-in-law. Why he’s living with her and her child is beyond me. Such is life. He’ll need to make his own decisions.

We ended up eating dinner at 10PM and didn’t leave Sacramento until 11:45PM or so. I was home in Alameda by 2AM! Yawn.

I thought of the final scene of PAPILLON, based on the novel by Henri Charriere and starring Steve McQueen. I felt like PAPILLON, who escapes French Guiana on the tide, floating away on a sack of coconuts. It was an absurd thought, but at certain moments there’s nothing else to do but humor your own delirium as something you don’t choose but simply endure.
-Roberto Saviano
GOMMORRAH