This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and foundation for inner security.
-Albert Einstein
The Beginnings – Part 85: IT WILL BE A QUICK ONE
Wednesday, September 7, 1983
I couldn’t hold back. I telephoned George Jones during my lunch break today. I actually reached him and we talked. We now seem to be in good terms once again. I feel better. It seems he has a number of job prospects in the Bay Area.
“What are you doing today?” I asked.
“Well, I planned a lunch with my sister, Cathy, at BENHIHANA.”
“Oh, that’s the one sister I haven’t met yet.”
“That’s right,” George laughed.
“I know you'll have a good time.”
“I will and I’ll call you tonight…at five-thirty or so.”
“That sounds good.”
Helen Wong, David Vigil and I discussed our plans for this coming Friday night. It looks like I will be driving to Sausalito. I’m not too thrilled about that. Shit! Helen may be spending the night here in Alameda at my townhouse. George wanted me to possibly pick him up in Sunnyvale on Friday night; however, I doubt I will be doing that if I’m going to be going to Sausalito after work.
George and I will still be seeing those movies on Saturday night. George may spend a four-day weekend here at my pad. He will get a good feel for Alameda. We really had a good talk. I feel our bond is getting closer once again.
I had another soothing bike ride. After the ride I came home to a little television and a couple of sandwiches. I was thinking that the odds are good that Helen Wong, Barbara Reynolds and Susan Low all received the cards I mailed them on this very day. I have yet to hear a word from any of them.
Earlier today Helen invited me to go to GALLAGHERS in Jack London Square this evening. I passed on the offer because I can’t be gallivanting and spending my limited money on cocktails.
Helen asked, “How about Bobby McGee’s tomorrow night?”
“I’ll let you know,” I replied; however, I think I will pass on that too.
Thursday, September 8, 1983
Hurrah! It’s finally payday.
I saw my high-school classmate, Mary Halverson, at the BART station yesterday. Maybe I will see her again today.
I am wearing George’s lavender shirt. I can’t get any closer to a reminder of him than wearing his clothes, right? I suppose this is true. I received quite a few compliments while wearing it today, too.
I telephoned George once again and suggested we go to the Great America Amusement Park. I made reservations at the MARRIOT for September 24th. I know we’ll have a good time.
I actually contemplated a visit to George tonight; however, he did not call me like he said he would. Creep! I even gave his telephone account a $48 credit. I bet if I credit him another $75 he will call me.
PHOTO: Paige LaBrie, Alameda, CA 1983
I telephoned Paige LaBris in Sacramento. She was so excited.
“Oh My God, Mike, I’m going to THE POLICE concert this Saturday night!”
“You are?” I asked.
“Yes, my girlfriends and I have a hotel room on the same floor where THE POLICE are staying!”
I laughed, thinking ‘what a teeny-bopper fanatic’.
Paige said, “I’ll call you on Saturday and we’ll see about getting together on Sunday!”
“Oh good…I can’t wait to see you!”
I thought, “Paige is such a doll.”
Helen Wong telephoned and said, “I loved the card you sent me. That verse about ‘memories and friends are treasures forever’ is so wonderful.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I was so pleased that she was pleased.
Dad called me and he confirmed that he is all done with the wall in the living room. Now all I need to do is the paint job.
Tammy surprised me with a phone call.
“So…I wondered what had happened to you on Tuesday night.”
“I remembered how I don’t like ‘the vibes’ at the skating-rink, so I decided not to go.”
I ordered a few clothes items from the SPIEGEL Clearance Catalog. I also received my comforter and shams that I had ordered from the catalog. They look so nice on my bed. Now I only need the brass portions to complete the look.
I went for an evening bike ride along South Shore beach. I feel good about myself. I’ve started tagging vitamins every morning. Helen has influenced me with that plan. After the bike outing I went to mom’s house for one of her classic tuna sandwiches. I watched an episode of THE EDGE OF NIGHT and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, too. It was good entertainment.
Before bedtime I dialed Helen’s phone number and we had a nice chat. Then it was time for a good night of sleep.
September 9, 1983
Tonight is the big night at ZACK’s in Sausalito with Helen and David. Who knows what will be after that outing?
Tomorrow night it will be George and ‘Mel Gibson’. I anticipate Paige LaBris for a Sunday visit. The weekend will be pretty full and I predict it will be a quick one.
I followed Dave and Helen in Dave’s red Honda Civic to Sausalito. It was fun cruising in my car along Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Once we arrived at ZACK’s we didn’t feel it was “LIVE”, so we went to HOULIHAN’s and ate appetizers there. I had an orange juice and champagne concoction. It was extremely refreshing. Dave left fairly quickly as Helen and I chose to return to ZACK’s and simply ‘hang-out’. Helen and I shared some fairly good conversation.
I thought about Dave’s silly comment of a ménage trios between the three of us. I laughed it off.
Helen said, “David can be pretty blunt at times.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
Mom surprised me last weekend when she said, “My brother, Ernie, and his wife, Sharon are getting a divorce. Sharon has cirrhosis of the liver and she may not live long.”
To top off this news mom said, “Trina had a baby and has been married for about five months.”
Trina Lucero is my first cousin who was born on April 9, 1967.
Mona Armijo (b. February 22, 1964) is my cousin on my dad’s side and she will be getting married on September 25th. We’re invited to the reception. What a surprise! Life changing events happens so fast.
Saturday, September 10, 1983
How yucky! I saw a guy on Park Street in Alameda who was spitting out from his mouth. He was experiencing some sort of trauma.
I put an advertisement in the local Alameda Times Star newspaper for a roommate. I quoted $350/per month. I wonder if I will get any inquiries. It’s a deal for this pad.
I drove to Sunnyvale for George. We had an erotic experience on his living room floor. It was only because we hadn’t seen each other for a full week. The kisses were so nice and voluptuous. It truly fazed me in a good way. We went to Los Gatos for his key chain at some old Native American Indian turquoise and silver shop. I liked a pendant that I saw there but I didn’t buy it.
We cruised up to San Francisco and went to GHIRADELLI SQUARE to eat at The Whale’s Inn. We gazed into each other’s eyes. It was a romantic moment.
I found a Mona Lisa T-shirt that I bought for my cousin, Mona Lisa while we were at the square. We headed back to my pad in Alameda, stopping at SAFEWAY. We happened to run into my mom and dad. We exchanged a few pleasant words with them while in the grocery store.
George and I enjoyed the comfort of my new comforter on the Queen-sized bed once we arrived at my place. We relieved each other excitedly.
Paige telephoned me on this night while George and I were in the middle of a very intimate moment. It was an unfortunate interruption.
Paige said, “I’ll call you in the morning so we can arrange a time to meet.”
“Okay, that sounds great.”
George and I continued ‘in love’ mode and had a very pleasant night of sleep.
Quicksand is just a suspension of sand in water, sand that’s become so saturated it pours like a milkshake—something temporary, not a permanent booby trap.
-Diane Ackerman
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES
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