Together In Electric Dreams

“If you wish to make an inventory of my sex life I must tell you you’ve missed out on several episodes.”
BLITHE SPIRIT,
An Improbably Farce by Noel Coward (a play):

Diary Notes from February 1988 

I dropped in on mom from time to time.  She always made my day and always made for another Polaroid opportunity still.  On this particular day I was wearing my ROAD WARRIOR T-shirt.  I remember when I was bicycling all over the Bay Area I really felt like a ‘Road Warrior’.

Earlier this month I went with Kelly and her good friend, Christine, to THE UNDERGROUND, a dance club in the City.   I wore my gray 501 LEVI jeans and a white shirt.  I thought I’d be cool and wear a scarf around my neck to hide my vampire marks (just kidding about the vampire marks).  
I didn’t realize it at the time but I went to my automated teller to get some cash and Kelly asked Christine, “What’s with the scarf around the neck?”
PHOTO:  Kelly Mullin

They didn’t realize the impact that the 1983 song called HORROR MOVIES had on me by The Bollock Brothers (a British punk band).  The scarf was probably also influential from my watching DARK SHADOWS.   

I was so amazed my Christine Hicks’ knowledge of music.   She’s like a music trivia almanac.   The three of us were all dancing together to THE HUMAN LEAGUE.   I really felt something special about Kelly when we danced.   She reminds me of Christie Brinkley, the super model.   She could be her kid sister.   The way Kelly looked at me and I looked at her as we danced to TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS was too much excitement for one night.   In fact, many of THE HUMAN LEAGUE tunes had me dwelling on Kelly.   The lyrics always seemed appropriate for ‘us’.  I’m only HUMAN, after all.

A week later I drove into San Francisco with Kelly Mullin and Christine Hicks.    Jim from the Gym came along this time. We went to the DV8 Dance Club as it was advertised on our favorite radio station. Jim met Christine and they seemed to hit it off nicely.   I was hoping they would get along.   We had a fun night after dancing. It was great how we all connected with the same type of alternative music a la THE QUAKE radio.  We went to that 24-Hour CHURCH STREET STATION for breakfast together at 2AM or so.   There were two transvestites there in fighting mode.  I sure don’t get this kind of action in suburbia.   City life is fascinating.   We are all thinking of going to a concert together later this month.  Exciting times…

I haven’t shared the news about Kelly to Paloma.   I suppose there really isn’t anything to disclose at this time.  It's too early to tell. Paloma is married now and has her little boy.   Somehow I still can’t seem to lose the solid connection we have always had.  Paloma must still think of me—but things are different now.   She sees a card with a bicycle on it and cannot help but think of me just as I think of her every time I see a perfume bottle.

PHOTO:  Postcard from PALOMA, dated February 20, 1988

Paloma wrote:

Hello Michael,
Thanks for your card.  I was glad to see your house on it.  Was that you waving at the window?

What’s happening?  No more long letters…I’ve been kind of worried for a while.   I was wondering why you didn’t write to me anymore.

Jonathon is fine…Thank you.   He’s just got two teeth and he is blond with blue eyes.  He’s really cute.   What’s the meaning of significant other?   I don’t understand that…

I remembered you at VALENTINE’S DAY, too.   I wondered what you did that day.   Remember when we went out together that one time?   Also they played PRINCESS DAISY on TV.   Remember when we used to talk about it on the phone?   I miss the Bay Area too.   Why are you writing at my old address?  Did you lose my new one?   So many computers and stuff…huh?

By the way, I wanted to ask you if you ever happen to get perfume samples.  I would love you for the rest of my life if you sent some to me.  I don’t know if I told you before but I collect the perfume bottles.   I’m really interested by American ones.   I’m even more into perfume samples than I was into body-building…if you can imagine!   Hope to read you soon but I’d keep loving you anyway.

PALOMA

My brother, Tony, and sister-in-law, Helen, have sold their house in Castro Valley.   I took a long bike ride to Castro Valley from Alameda and took a cool pic of Helen with the FOR SALE sign.   They’ve bought a larger, newer house in Castro Valley.   Good for them.

“That was a powerful, intimate moment…sharing the flame.”
–Ethan Hawke
I LOVE YOU, NEW YORK (movie)