Aliens On Another Planet

We slept to the roaring, surging sound of waves below, but next morning, under a sky colored like a pigeon’s neck, the sea was calm and reflected the sunrise.--Emily Hahn, NO HURRY TO GET HOME

On July 2nd (1991) I took a random shot of Alan browsing the newspaper while at his apartment in Sea Colony, Santa Monica.  I feel like I am spending more time there (and I like the sea breeze).  Alan's divorce is agonizing to him right now as the attorney fees seem to continue to add up.
Lauren Freiman (Alan’s daughter) sent me a cute postcard of a piggy (how did she know I was born YEAR OF THE BOAR?).    She was away at summer camp in Malibu and responded to a card that I sent her.   She wrote:
Dear Michael,How are you?  Yes, I am still having fun.   I like a boy named ARI and he likes me.  I miss you.Love, Lauren
Dorothy found a Grand Teton National Park photo postcard from 1959 (the year of my birth).  It’s in Wyoming.   She wrote:
Hi Michael!You MUST see CITY SLICKERS!  I had no real expectations while I walked into the theater but walked out feeling that I had finally been thoroughly entertained.  It gave me what I was looking for in THELMA ANDLOUISE but didn’t quite get.
My only problem is now I REALLY want to do something truly out of the ordinary and am left frustrated—compounded by life in a cubicle that promotes atrophy of the brain!  Anyway, do see the movie…and take Alan.Love, Dorothy
And so…Alan and I went to see CITY SLICKERS.   We laughed.  It’s good for the tummy (to laugh).  Great movie.   Alan and I also escaped for the 4thof July weekend to Northern California.   
We stayed the night at my mom’s house one night and took her to see TERMINATOR 2.  It was action-filled fun.   One of our highlights was staying at the WHALE WATCH INN in Gualala, CA.   There was a little saloon there.  There were swinging doors and we walked in and it was like a scene from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure when he walked into the BIKER BAR…everyone looked up to see us and wondered, “Where in the hell did they come from?”   We felt like aliens on another planet. We also had a fine dining experience at a place called the OLD MILANO INN where they had turkeys and chickens roaming freely in their backyard.   Wild.I sent a postcard to mom of THE WHALE WATCH INN on July 4th:
Hi Mom,This area of Gualala, California is so close to the coastline.  That explains why it is so much more on the cooler side.  There is definitely no hot weather here.   There is a lot of fog at night, too.  See you soon…call you soon.Love, Mikeeee
I wrote to Paloma at 2PM on July 8th:
Dear Paloma,Thanks for sending the PORSCHE 959 (photo card).  I’m sure that’s the closes I will ever get to the real thing…but then again you never know.  
I picked up this card of the muscle man at an ART GALLERY.   Some photographer was exhibiting Vintage photographs from the 1950’s.  His physique reminded me of me (ha-ha) and I know how you like to get photos of me every once in a while…so, do you like it?
I just returned yesterday from a visit to Northern California.  I went with Alan who was checking out property (business).   I went along because his partner couldn’t go and it was a “freebie” plane ride.   We went to Santa Rosa, Gualala, Little River (near Mendocino) and we stayed at my mom’s house in Alameda on Saturday night.   
Alan and I took mom out to see TERMINATOR 2 after dinner.  It was pretty good.   
That’s too bad you didn’t get to see your brother while he was visiting.  I’ve never been to New Orleans.  I’d like to check it out.   When you firm up your dates—let me know so I can maybe meet you for dinner or something.   
Alan and I were talking about the great restaurant you took us to!  We decided it was one of the best dinners in Europe.  
My nieces keep growing!   Till next time…Love, Michael
“Was that your smile or the reflection of mine?” he asked.“She shrugged her shoulders to mean “whatever”.“I hope it was the reflection of mine,” he said, “I wouldn’t like you to smile at me like that before you got to know me.   When you get to know me I’ll know what it means.  Right now I might have the wrong idea.”
-Colin Channer, WAITING IN VAIN, a novel