The Beginnings - Part 60: SUMMER LOVERS

“Sometimes people survive better apart—even after a long time together.”
-SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
1971 motion-picture

The Beginnings – Part 60: SUMMER LOVERS

July 19, 1983

I learned today that Barbara Reynolds’ father died. I thought this was very sad. She hasn’t been home each time I’ve tried to call her.

Today I renewed my auto insurance with ALLSTATE Insurance in Oakland. It’s a bit cheaper as it is only $600 every six months. That’s about as good as I can get for now.

I spoke to mom while at work.
She said, “You got a letter and I think it’s a picture from Ann-Margret.”
I was so excited. I found out that Ann-Margret does live on Doheny Drive and not Doherty as I had previously thought. I hope she receives the card that I sent her. I would really like to meet that woman.

Before I arrived home I had a nice talk on the BART train with a woman named Elena Kasberg. It made for a more interesting commute. We always seem to have good talks as I often see her at the same routine time. She is really nice.

I noticed my San Leandro neighbor sweeping his porch area today. We shared in some small talk. His name is Ted and he works for NORTHSTAR COMPUTERS.
“What do you do for Northstar?” I asked.
“Oh, I demonstrate trade shows and that sort of thing.”
“Oh…I used to be a Computer Operator.”
“I thought you might be a photographer.”
I thought that was nice. I guess because he always sees me with my camera.

I spoke to George briefly. He and his friend, Cammie, intend on coming to San Leandro for a visit. They will go to the skating rink on a Tuesday night so they can easily commute with ‘the group’ from the San Jose area.

I advised, “I can easily meet you at SEASONS at around midnight. I just don’t feel like going to that skating scene when I can’t even skate.”

I figured I can stay awake one night to see him if he’s in the area. He’s a special guy after all. I’d go.

I rode my bike to Frank’s house in Hayward. We talked as he polished his mom’s vinyl convertible top. We talked about little things as he hinted about the possibility of our reuniting in terms of a relationship someday. For some reason, I know it won’t happen. The way things are now with George and I it seems impossible. Sometimes I feel Frank is too much of an immature gossip. I am sometimes afraid to talk to Frank as he can easily twist and misinterpret my words.

Suzy Miller telephoned me tonight.
“What are you up to?” Suzy asked.
I almost felt like she knew something was going on with George and me. How could she know though?
“Not much…just working.”
“I wanted to invite you over on Saturday to go to the beach or whatever.”
“That would be nice but I already made plans to go camping. I can see you another day though.”

It is now 10:20PM and midnight is drawing near. This means I’ll have to endure the SEASONS CAFÉ scene. I will get to see George though. We’ll see…

July 20, 1983

It was an upsetting day because I got a flat tire on my bike while riding from the San Leandro BART station to my apartment. It really isn’t as bad as all of that. It could have been worse. I spent most of the evening repairing the flat on my own. It didn’t do any good. I will have to take it in to have it fixed.

July 21, 1983

I picked-up George (in Sunnyvale) after I did my laundry. We were both so horny—and yet, so tired. Is that possible? I have so much fun with that guy. I love him. We went to his Aunt and Uncle’s for directions on getting to the area of Westwood.

After acquiring the directions we went to Scott’s house and watched a cool movie called SUMMER LOVERS. Cammie, Steve, and Scott’s nephew were also there.

SUMMER LOVERS had a sexy plot that ended up turning into a ménage trios between one guy (named Michael) and two girls. It begins with a young college age American couple who go to the Greek Islands for the summer. They’re dazzled by the beauty and the uninhibited people surrounding them on a nude beach. Michael meets and begins an affair with a French woman, an archaeologist who is working on a project. The young American girl (played by actress Darryl Hannah) is quite taken with the woman’s photographic work, and the three become extremely close.

We were so relaxed after watching the SUMMER LOVERS movie. It was like taking a summer trip to Greece. Then George and I had to drive back to my place. I think that’s why we were so tired by the time we arrived at my apartment in San Leandro. Boy, did we want each other.

July 22, 1983

I bought George a FUN-IN-THE-SUN greeting card.

I bought my coworker, Kris McKee a GIVE ME A CALL greeting card. I’ll miss her now that she’s transferring to another department.

George picked me up at the BART station. I allowed him to drive my car. While at my place we completed the finishing touches by packing a few things. We were soon off on our adventure.

We stopped at a place called KATHY AND BILL’S for a bite to eat. It was fun to just talk along the way. We enjoyed just ‘being together’ (as usual). We do have tiny spats once in a while but they’re such harmless tidbit nothings. It’s hard to even recall what we may have argued about. We definitely have ‘more’ good times. We left San Leandro at 6:30PM and arrived in Westwood at approximately half past midnight.

George’s dad wasn’t home, so we went to his sister’s house. George’s sister is named Becky.

Becky allowed us to sleep upstairs. We relieved ourselves of our 4-day period of ‘being without’. It was great. It was only funny because there was no wash towel handy and we had to be very quiet. Ha-ha.

“Jealousy doesn't show how much you love someone, it shows how insecure you are.”
-Valerie Quennessen,
as LINA in the 1982 film SUMMER LOVERS