The Beginnings – Part 22: TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OLD

Uma Thurman: “There’s nothing more boring to me than an infatuated youth. I will never be your mistress!”
-BEL AMI,
2012 motion-picture

The Beginnings – Part 22: TWENTY-FOUR YEARS OLD

April 27, 1983

I really did not feel good today. I felt sick at work. I forgot what feeling sick was like for a while there. Surprisingly, my sales results were good. I took home four miniature bottles of liquor as my prize: Wolfschmidt Vodka, Smirnoff Vodka, Early Times Whiskey and Gordon’s Gin. Ha-ha…like maybe I will actually drink them one day. I should really make a hot toddy with that Early Times Whiskey. It my clear whatever ails me. I’m just not very good at mixing drinks. Where is that bartender brother of mine? John is the bartender in the family.

I guess I will be losing my one-hundred dollar deposit if I don’t move in to THE TIMBERS Apartment in San Leandro on the first day of June. I think it will be a good thing for me to do. It’s time.  They even have a swimming pool there.  It may turn out to be a decent investment if they do convert to condominiums.

No one has called me. I guess I haven’t really chosen to telephone anyone myself. Of course, I did call mom from work. I call her practically every day from work. We discussed my moving out. John’s moving out and Tony is likely to be moving out by the end of this year. I’m glad I’m going to be living on my own. I’ll still be close to Alameda. I will be twenty-four years old and I need to be on my own sooner or later. The setting at this apartment complex called THE TIMBERS is full of trees and the interiors are very contemporary.

After my work day I came home to some tortellini and cuddled up for a nap with a warm blanket. After the good sleeping period I still didn’t feel too hot. I woke up to some phone call from JC PENNEY.
The JC PENNEY guy said, “Mr. Armijo’s roll top desk is ready for pick-up.”
I answered, “Okay.”
I guess it’s probably for my brother, John. This reminds me that I’ll have to shop around for my own sofa and household items.

I telephoned Juanita Lane yesterday and said, “Yeah, I’ve decided to move out from my parents’ house.”
We were interrupted by a phone call from Los Angeles. It was her call waiting service.
She did say, “I think your move is a good thing.”

I also shared the moving out news with Barbara Reynolds. We discussed some other fun subjects like BAM Magazine, the UC THEATER, Photography, her jealousy over my friendship with Juanita Lane and my affection for Juanita, upcoming vacation time and bike riding.

April 28, 1983

Today I received a letter from Dot Salas. She’s a Pacific Telephone Advertising Manager. It was a positive letter. I intend on calling her tomorrow. I was so excited about the letter that I had to share the news. I called Doug Siu and shared it with him. I also wrote a list of questions that I will ask Ms. Salas when I phone her. I couldn’t seem to get myself off of the phone with Doug.
I finally just blurted, “You know, I have to go to LEVITZ Private Furniture sale now.”
I actually invited him along. He met me there. I didn’t see any sofa that caught my eye.

After the LEVITZ visit I took a spin in my car to my future apartment. I noticed in the resident directory that Diane Melendres resides there! I’ve known her since first grade. So that’s one fellow tenant that I know. What a small world after all. The DISNEY song is going in my mind.

I guess Diane Melendres lives with some guy with the surname Williams.

I pressed her intercom number on the directory and Mr. Williams said, “Oh…she’s not home.”
“Oh, okay…just tell her that her old friend Mike Armijo called.”
I think I’ll remain a mystery for a while. I will wait until I officially move-in.

I watched the news program 20/20. Barbara Walters interviewed Mr. and Mrs. Hinckley (the parents of John Hinckley). Their son, John, is the one who was obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and attempted murder on President Ronald Regan. He got off of jail time as it was determined that he was mentally ill. The other story was interesting, too. It was about the loss in profits over the years of Hugh Hefner’s PLAYBOY monopoly. I hope my company (PT&T) won’t meet that predicament over time. There’s no telling what the future holds. Companies come and go. I only hope the big shots at PT&T will recognize my worth sooner or later!

“I am what I am.”
-Stieg Larsson
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE