The Beginnings - Part 34: MY TWENTY-FOURTH BIRTHDAY

“Laugh and you are free.”
-Charles Ludlam

The Beginnings – Part 34: MY TWENTY-FOURTH BIRTHDAY

May 25, 1983

I made Pat Overschoun’s day by giving her that unique greeting card. I succeeded in cheering her up. She sold $650 worth of services today. I only sold about $300. Our section broke a record with over $2000 in sales of various telecommunications services. We will be commended tomorrow during our office meeting. I am sure of it.

I wonder if they planned anything for me tomorrow. It is my birthday and I didn’t notice any internal planning going on. Well, I guess I will find out tomorrow.

When I arrived home I went bicycling along the beach. The wind was against me, so it was pretty tough.

I’m driving Helen and Barbara to and from the San Francisco-Bay Cruise tomorrow.

Michael Padazinski said, “I don’t have any plans over the weekend. Call me if you need help moving.”
I thought that was so kind of him. I may take him up on his offer. He’s a nice guy. His sexual preference is a big question though. He’s not an easy character to read. I shouldn’t get too involved with the dude. He works in the adjacent department and it could become trouble.

I received an early birthday card from Barbara Reynolds today. She’s a doll. She never forgets. I love her.

Tomorrow evening should prove exciting. I can’t wait for the office cruise along the Bay.

I gave my brother, Tony, a ride to the ALCO Parking Lot when I saw him walking along Webster Street. He’s okay when one hasn’t been around him for too lengthy a period of time. He tends to be obnoxious. I believe that’s how it goes with those TAURUS dudes. Howard Edelstein is also proof of that.

I hope Traci gets in touch with me soon. I wonder about Christa and Karen sometimes. Only time will tell. The last girl I’ve kissed was Paige. Oh yes, there was Meredith after that (I forgot). I need the feel of Traci’s lips and body against mine…soon.

May 26, 1983

I woke up at 2:30AM or so to Tony’s annoying burglar alarm that was set off in his car. There was no apparent crime in progress. Mom was awake (as she had just arrived home from work a half hour before the alarm). She wished me a Happy Birthday. It was after midnight, so it was my twenty-fourth birthday.

Once morning arrived I went to work to find my desk all decorated with balloons and colored ribbon. It was all done the previous evening. What a surprise. Barbara Reynolds was such a doll. She gave me another birthday card. Pat Overschoun gave me a card along with a fresh-cut rose from her flower garden on this very morning. To top it all off, several of my coworkers (Barbara, Juanita, Pat, Cindy) carried a cake all lit up with twelve candles. I guess each candle counted for ‘two years’. I made a wish (Traci Hill, of course). Then I blew out the candles. I turned shades of red.

That evening was our Bay Cruise on the Horn blower Yachts which departed from the Berkeley Marina. It was so much fun. I had a good time. I took several pictures. Some people were worried about me, thinking that I couldn’t handle my liquor. I was just having a good time.

After the cruise, Helen drove my car and dropped Barbara at her home so she could be with her new boyfriend. Helen and I went to GALLAGHERS and the music was nothing to brag about. It’s a great place to visit when I’m fifty-years old (maybe). Ha-ha. The music was still energizing.

My brother, John, prepared a Brandy Alexander blended cocktail for me. He was on bartending duty that night. I ended up spending the night at Helen’s pad. She lied next to me before lights out and we gossiped about our office coworkers.

Oh yes, I’m invited to a party next weekend. Juanita Lane has a cousin who is having a Birthday party. That might be fun.

Music can be so uplifting and recharging, it encourages sedentary people to exercise longer and more often. The usual choice is jazz, swing, pop, or rock, whose rhythms jar our natural heart rhythm and make our blood pressure rise; we feel revved up.
-Diane Ackerman
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES