-Christopher Bram
EMINENT OUTLAWS
Twenty-five years ago today:
August 8, 1987
On this day (8-8-1987) I remember buying a round birthday cake made with whipped-cream frosting for my Dad's 52nd Birthday. I bought two candles with the number '5' and '2' and lit them...and walked into the living room, singing 'Happy Birthday'. He smiled from ear-to-ear. He did not expect it. I can still see his look of surprise. It made him so happy. It made me happy.
The Beginnings – Part 36: MY NEW WHEELS
June 1, 1983
It was a mediocre first day of June. There’s nothing too exciting to report, Dear Diary.
I saw Beatrice Castillo with Barbara Raupe. Both are classmates of mine from my 1st through 5th grade St. Anthony’s School Days. They didn’t seem too impressive. Diane Melendres was out to lunch when I stopped by the IMPERIAL BANK in Downtown Oakland to see her.
Barbara Raupe and I made tentative plans for a movie. It has yet to come through. We did talk on the phone. It was a pleasant conversation. She actually knew where a lot of our classmates were at this point in time.
I went for a twenty-minute hot tub relaxation period. I returned to my apartment to shower and sleep.
Tomorrow is Thursday. This means it’s payday and that’s always a good thing. Then Friday is next and my vacation time will be here again. Hurrah. I am planning a tentative escape trip to Los Angeles and Sacramento.
June 2, 1983
Today was a ‘record day’ in sales for me. I sold a total of $1054 in telecommunication services. That amount alone is worthy of my two week vacation.
Once my day was over I joined Helen for a work out in her aerobics class at Chabot College. We went for a dip in my apartment hot tub and pool afterward. We ate pizza (frozen) and had fresh cantaloupe and vanilla ice-cream for dessert.
I also called my tub mate, Pat Overshoun. She remembered my phone number and I gave her the news of my phenomenal sales day. She had the day off.
June 3, 1983
Well, it is my last day of work before my relief time of two weeks. How nice it will be to be free again.
After my last break today I went to a special meeting about the ATT Divestiture as the company will be split into seven different companies. PTT (Pacific Telephone and Telegraph) will become PACIFIC BELL. I actually have three choices as an employee. I may stay where I am at PACIFIC BELL or go to EBO (an entity of ATT) in either Fremont or Napa. I think I will remain where I am in Oakland.
When I arrived home dad called me.
“How are you doing?” Dad asked.
“Pretty good,” I replied.
I thought it was nice of him to call. I got the feeling that he missed me. I missed him, too.
My cousin, Sandy, called also. We did go bike riding and found a great yogurt shop near Davis Street in San Leandro. After the ride I suggested Sandy accompany me to Fremont to the STARGAZE club. It was kind of dead, so we left at about 11PM. After I dropped her home I meandered over to that In-Between Bar. I left after one drink because it seemed lonely. The bartender was very friendly though. It was scary because when I drove out of the parking lot. I got the feeling some dude was following me home. Luckily, he turned right at some side street just before I turned left on San Leandro Boulevard. I doubt I will be stopping there again. I didn’t like the ‘vibes’ there. I’d rather stay home and read my book.
June 4, 1983
Mom started to cry over Tony’s attitude. I could tell she wished Tony could just share the bike with me. Tony is stubborn (as the TAURUS can be). I persuaded mom into driving me back to San Leandro. I refused to ride his bike again.
Mom drove me to San Lorenzo where we went to the MERVYN’s store there. Mom bought me some new tennis shoes. After that she drove to my apartment and I took mom for a ride in my car to MOVIN’ ON CYCLERY. I chose to buy my very own SCHWINN 12-Speed Super Le Tour bicycle. I was ecstatic over my new wheels. I love it so much! Mom drove my car to my apartment and I rode the bicycle from the bike shop to my pad.
Suzy phoned and I asked her, “Why don’t you come over?”
She arrived around 4:30PM and we did a lay out by the swimming pool routine. It was relaxing. There were actually quite a few people out today. The only one of any interest (on my part) was Suzy and the blond who was wearing a RED SOX T-Shirt.
Suzy and I ate at the RED ROBIN at Bay Fair Shopping Center for dinner and I had ‘One Heck of a Spud’. That’s what they call they baked potato with all of the fixings.
Suzy made me laugh when she said, “That potato probably comes from the Amazon.”
There was a great looking, thin blond hostess at RED ROBIN tonight. There was also a blond surfer looking dude in the restaurant. His eyes were squinting in my direction. He was a customer at the restaurant but I couldn’t help but notice his eye contact. I was more infatuated over new hostess. Perhaps because she wasn’t give me the eye contact.
I decided to hop into my car and drive to ECHO BEACH in San Francisco. I wanted to dance.
While at ECHO BEACH I met a broad named Denise.
Denise said, “I’m from San Mateo.”
There was another girl named Lauren Brief who was interesting.
I asked Lauren, “Where are you from?”
She asked me, “Do you mean originally?”
“Yes.”
“New York.”
Lauren was nice but she was a little overweight. It was good that she was dancing to work it off. I gave her my phone number. Maybe she will call me.
The night wouldn’t have been complete without meeting someone of the male persuasion. And so, I met a calm, cool, clean cut and collective guy who looked a mere twenty-one years old. I thought he could pass for seventeen or eighteen. He actually reminded me a little bit of Michael Miller. He seemed so shy while he was speaking with me; however, I could tell he was ready for ‘anything’. No, I didn’t take advantage. It was an okay night.
June 5, 1983
I had planned on a new bicycle ride with my cousin, Sandy; however, she backed-out at the last minute.
Helen Wong and I contemplated a trip to the San Francisco Zoo but that didn’t happen either. I suggested bringing along my cousin Shawn and Shonette but I learned that my cousin, Shawn, was at home with poison-oak. My Uncle Howard said that my Aunt Lillian and Shonette were at my Grandma’s house. And so, I simply cruised on my new wheels to Lake Chabot for a freedom and independence ride. It was such an invigorating excursion. I love my new bicycle. The escape was rewarding. I plan to do it again. The ride uphill was a challenge.
Of course as I was pedaling up that hill I said to myself, “Never again!”
After the bike ride I drove with my convertible top down to Alameda. I ate some of the red chile enchilada casserole that my mother made. I gulped down two cans of Mountain Dew. I felt so thirsty and I desperately needed the fluids. I ended up staying at my mom and dad’s house for most of the night. I watched a couple of good movies on my ex-VCR: ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and TEX. I sold my VCR to my mom for five-hundred dollars yesterday. She really wanted it and wanted to pay me for it. I didn’t feel I needed a VCR any longer. The cash helped me out, too.
“Old habits are easier to break than we think.”
-Judi Dench
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
2012 motion-picture
0 comments:
Post a Comment