While in the AIR FORCE

He had to think, he had to order his thoughts.

-Shyam Selvadurai
CINNAMON GARDENS, a novel

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 24, 1987
Sunday

Today was more of a lounge about kind of day. I slept-in and then I heard about the mass of crowds at the Golden Gate 50th Anniversary Celebration. I was glad I wasn’t there amidst the many people.

Bill Matson called me to see about arranging a dinner outing with him and Irene.
“That’s sounds great,” I replied.
“Oh good because Irene plans to leave in about a week.”

Chris left early and I went over to mom’s for a bite to eat. Mom and I took a drive to see the house that Tony and Helen submitted an offer for in Castro Valley. They bid an offer of $225,000 on a house on a street called Arlington Isle.   I'm sure they'll get it.

I was wearing Tony’s shirt that belonged to him while in the AIR FORCE. He didn’t want it and gave it to mom to donate it.   I stumbled upon it and I liked it.  I thought it would be fun to wear with Memorial Day coming soon.
I think Tony said something like, “Nice shirt.”

Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to be in the AIR FORCE.  I still admire how my brother, Tony, managed to serve four years.

Since we weren’t far from the Hayward Cemetery I accompanied mom to place flowers on her father’s grave (my grandfather: Fidel Alexander Lucero). When we returned to mom’s house we watched IN SELF DEFENSE.

I watched QUEENIE (the movie my mom videotaped).   I was up way past midnight, watching it.

Johnny called from L.A.  Jeff called from Honolulu.

There’s no word from Eileen except for the card she sent me. In the card she wrote: ‘I’m available next Tuesday, Wednesday Night and Thursday’.

The man who sees the funny side survives.
-Martin Booth
The Industry of Souls, a novel