The Beginnings - Part 63: GOOD THINGS

Life will play some dirty tricks and you just got to stand fast, spit in the eye of the devil, do good work, and come out singing your victory at the end of the day.
-Joanna Scott
MAKE BELIEVE

Twenty-five years ago
September 4, 1987

A few photos after my dad’s funeral that include a solo of my niece, Lauren Armijo;  my first cousin, Shawn West;  and a shot of my mom with Lauren and a shot of me with Lauren.  Somehow…a funeral with children around help to soothe things because they don’t completely understand.

The Beginnings – Part 63:  GOOD THINGS

July 30, 1983

George and I didn’t go to the DAY ON THE GREEN Concert. We did enjoy spending the night together though. We made good use of our time.

I liked the greeting card George gave me. The printed copy read “YOU’RE A HIT”. The one I gave him had the printed copy that read “I’M SHELLFISH”. I think my card pleased him as well. I only debated on our relationship at one time last night.
It was when George said, “I have to have a joint.”
Yuck…Gross…Shit!

I left George’s pad at around 1:30 in the afternoon. The idiotic RB FURNITURE joint did not deliver my other table like they were supposed to do. They were being assholes. I will have to call on Monday to make an arrangement with management.

Now I am off for an invigorating bike ride to Alameda. Who knows…maybe I will enjoy a VCR movie tonight.

As luck would have it I did enjoy two films. I watched NIGHTHAWKS (Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer) and WOLFEN (Albert Finney and Edward James Olmos). Both of them were good.

Oh yes…it was so random and funny when I saw Renee Miller while driving on the freeway with my convertible top down today as I was returning from Sunnyvale. Tomorrow happens to be her birthday.

July 31, 1983

I woke up this morning and had a terrific pancake and bacon breakfast prepared by mom. After the meal digested I went for a bike ride along the South Shore beach in Alameda. I happened to see Fran McElhinney (a high-school pal) and Pauline (a retiree from Pacific Telephone) while riding. I dropped by Suzy Miller’s apartment but she wasn’t home. I became frustrated when I practically ran over some idiotic little boy who got in my way. I swiftly pedaled my way back to Harbor Bay Isle and cruised along the pathways there. A helicopter flew down below the Harbor Bay Isle Club, too. I wondered what might be going on.

I returned home to mom and dad’s and watched a documentary about  EVITA PERON with them. I felt sleepy so I never saw the ending of the movie. I fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up I learned that mom had gone to the grocery store. Dad and I got into a minor argument about money matters. He was being an imbecile. I became so nerve-racked and upset that I darted out of the house on my bike. I was almost in tears. He was being an asshole.

As I rode my bike along San Leandro Boulevard there was a PSA car with two football players. One of them gave me a sly, desirable eye. At first I was surprised and then I wondered if he was actually looking at ‘me’. He was looking at ‘me’ and it felt strange (in a good way).

I arrived home to my apartment. I needed someone after my ‘tiff with pop’, so I immediately thought of George. I decided to just start my engine and drive to Sunnyvale to see him. He was working, so I simply hung out at THE WHEREHOUSE RECORDS store until he was done with his shift. We went over to his house and his mom and boyfriend were there; whereby, we split the scene to Los Gatos.

We ate at THE GOOD EARTH restaurant for lasagna and beef stroganoff. It made me feel bloated afterwards. It wasn’t a good feeling. Ugh! We continued our day by dropping by at Danny and Ken’s pad. Ken’s asshole brother, Corby, was there with his dorky looking beau. I also met Dan’s pregnant mother. George and I just sat around as they were preparing dinner. We drank some wine. I didn’t want any part of the joint smoking. George tried to put up a good front until he went upstairs with Kevin for a hit off of a pipe. After George came down and smacked a kiss my way I knew he had been smoking. I was a little pissed.

As time progressed Kevin, George and I went for a walk to Downtown Los Gatos. It was relatively close by their apartment. The night was summertime splendid.
I kept nudging George, “I know you had a hit.”
He smiled, acting like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

When we walked back to the apartment I was shocked that George didn’t choose to leave with me. After all, I drove all this way to see only him (the ONLY YOU song by YAZoo comes to mind).   George is the one who introduced me to YAZoo.  I didn’t plan on ending up at his dope addict pal’s house only to leave him there to spend the night!

As I drove I knew that I needed space from George. I wrote him a card, explaining my hurt feelings. I simply do not want to talk to him for a good while. I’ve decided to keep my phone unplugged. He didn’t even have the decency to call to see if I arrived home safely.

I summarized today as a ‘dead day’. I decided to plug my phone in again when the phone rang. I refused to answer it. I thought it might be my mom, so I called her. We talked and I shared my day.
“Yeah, I drove to Los Gatos after dad got into his sudden fit.”
Mom reassured me, “You know how he gets sometimes.”
“Yeah, he’ll get over it.”

I went to bed after our pleasant phone call. Yawn.

August 1, 1983

The first day of August and I had a good $695 in sales today.
The second line supervisor commended me by saying, “I want to commend your sales efforts today.”
Her words made me feel good.

I telephoned mom and she said, “I’m coming over to visit you today. And I talked with dad and he felt guilty about yesterday. He told me to tell you that he’s a changed man.”
I laughed, “I’m glad. And I’m so happy you’re coming over!”

When I telephoned Nici Maurino I learned that she plans to visit my apartment tomorrow night. I’m looking forward to her visit. It’s nice to have visitors.

I had intended on picking up the phone to call George Jones that night but I figured I’d ‘hold-off’ on him for a while.
I thought, “Let’s see how he reacts with some time off from me.”

I love my bicycle again. Riding home and switching gears from the BART station just turned me on.

It was a real surprise this evening because both mom and dad came over to visit me! They brought me some goodies for dinner. Mom took some of my clothes to wash at her house and she vacuumed my pad. What a doll!

When I finished writing a letter to Maria De Lourdes of Guadalajara, Mexico and the monthly ‘earth calling-please make contact’ card to Ann-Margret I said goodbye to my folks.

I went for a hot tub outing. It felt good. I showered and decided to call Tammy. Of course, she wasn’t home.

My right ear was ringing. My mom says that means someone is saying ‘good things’ about me. If the left ear is ringing someone is saying ‘bad things’. Who is talking ‘good things’ about me?

There is still no word about mom’s cousin, Sophie, moving out of the Alameda Islandia Townhouse. Time will tell.

“I guess being needed is almost as good as being loved. Maybe better.”
-Betty Smith
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN