Just Another One of Life's Flaws

“Try the SPARKLY EYES technique.”-Jon Ronson, THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
…just when one thinks that all of the best greeting cards have been sent and received I happen to find a miraculous one in my mailbox.   This time it was from Birda (a close-up image of a bicyclist pounding the metal to the pedal).   It makes me want to ride…ride like the wind.  Birda wrote about how we are often hit with ‘just another one of life’s flaws’.   And that’s when we both realize we need to ride our bikes to release those anxieties.   Birda wrote the following:
Jan. 29, 1991
Michael,
How are things going?   Things here are OK, I guess.  If I could either get the truck or the T.A. to run right it would be better.   Not having a car that can get me out of Alameda is driving me crazy.  I was going to get a new car but I have decided since my job is getting real slow and our contract is up in June it looks like there’s going to be a strike and then it wouldn’t be wise right now.  Oh well…it’s just another one of life’s flaws.  Just when you think you’ve got it beat it knocks you down again…but we shake it off and LIFE goes on.

I am still planning on a February trip to L.A.   So far it’s planned for February 11th.  Jan, my friend in L.A., is going to be up here on the 8th, 9th and 10th.   We are either going to fly back or drive down on the 11th and hopefully I’ll be able to stay until the 17th.  But (there’s always a ‘but’) if I can work I have to work to save for the lay0off and the possible strike.   So things are UP IN THE AIR until the last minute—as usual.  I never did like plans.  They have a way of letting you down.For the last month I’ve been working so much that it’s insane.  I’ve been to Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles (didn’t stay long), Fresno, Marysville, Woodland, Auburn, Roseville, Redding, Chico, Yreka, Eureka, Ukiah, Shingle Springs, etc.   That’s about 2000 miles a week.   And now I’ve been on-call for two days.  It’s nice having a 7-day weekend.  I’ve been riding my bike mostly while still having time for the domestic chores again.
I hope everything is going well with school.  Graduation next month!   I’ll bet you’re ready.  School is fun for a while but it doesn’t make much money and makes for very long days!   So I better let you go study.  Take care and if all goes well I will see you soon.Love Always, Birda
A couple of days later I received a brief, strange handwritten note from Mario in Miami.   I guess it was meant to make me chuckle as I’m sure he is NOT planning to do such a thing.   If he did it would be ‘just another one of life’s flaws’.   He wrote:
January 31, 1991Miami, FLHi Stranger,I am thinking to shave my head and move to IRAQ.What’s up with you?  Write and let me know…Your Friend,Mario I was looking forward to my 3-day weekend escape to Alameda for the nights of February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.   There was no real time to see other friends.  I just wanted to be with mom and see immediately family.  It was more of a rest for me from school/work anyhow.  
I would’ve liked to meet Birda on the bike path but my bike is Los Angeles now.  As Birda would say, “It’s just another one of life’s flaws”.   It would be nice to ride on these familiar Alameda pathways again.
I brought my Polaroid camera along.  I wore my cool new black boots, too.

I arrived on Saturday morning.  Mom was on the phone with Grandma and I set my camera for a photo of me with her.   I meant to write the topic of what mom and Grandma were talking about but mom kept repeating “Mmmm huh”, so I didn’t hear what Grandma was gossiping about. 
We went to visit John at his townhouse on Cook Lane.  He was alone with the girls while Sherri was at work.   John had an evening shift. 

I couldn’t get over how big Ally was already.  Time flies when one is away.
Mom and I relaxed at home after dinner.   Her doll collection seemed to have grown but mom insisted that she hadn’t bought any others.“Do you ever talk to your dolls, mom?”  I asked. Mom just laughed.   I took that to mean that she doesn’t.  “Well, I know you did when you were a little girl with that special porcelain one that you had during your early Cerrillos, New Mexico days.”
February 3, 1991, Sunday
The following day mom and I went for breakfast at OLE’S WAFFLE SHOP on Park Street.   We stopped in on John and Sherri again but it seemed like a drab day of relaxation for them.  I managed to get a new Polaroid shot of Ally who seemed very much in discovery mode.   I nabbed a Polaroid of Ashley, too.   She had just finished a good cry.  I suppose she didn’t get what she wanted.   It happens to all of us.  It’s just another one of LIFE’s flaws.
John and Sherri and the girls were going to come over to mom’s house later.   Once we were back at mom’s house we soon received the pleasant arrival of Tony, Helen and their girls (Lauren and Leigh).  It was time for more photo opportunities.  I managed to get a good group photo.

Leigh was in tired mode.   I can’t win them all.   It’s just another one of life’s flaws.Soon, John and Sherri arrived with the girls (Ashley, Holly and Ally).   I snapped some more pictures.  It was fun and I was starting to feel sad that I had to leave tomorrow night. 
February 4, 1991
“I need another photo with you, mom.  How about we take it inside the indoor patio?”She agreed and laughed when I wanted to include the girls’ Pee Wee Herman doll that I bought for them.   
Mom drove me to Oakland Airport later that night.   It was short, but sweet.   I know I’ll return soon.  Leaving is sad sometimes but it’s just another one of life’s flaws.  Ha-ha.
At least I have something new to look forward to…Alan and I plan to go to see a new comedy coming out next weekend called “L.A. STORY”, starring Steve Martin (known for his Saturday Night Live fame).    My forward vision always has something else ahead of me.   It’s important to always have something new, exciting to expect.  Life’s too short.  Enjoy it.  Don’t limit it.
“Your vision never extended past the backyard.”
--as heard watching the Woody Allen 2009 film, WHATEVER WORKS