Stopping Traffic

When I am less agitated I shall find a way to get away from here.  But, in the meantime, writing down what has happened helps me to organize my thoughts.  And if I am to die this diary will leave a record of the agony I suffered.--Adolfo Bioy Casares, THE INVENTION OF MOREL
There was no time for a book right now.   Alan heard me when I suggested a stage musical that I noticed in the ARTS section of the LA TIMES called JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, an Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice production.  The lead actor in the show is MICHAEL DAMIAN.  He is a recurring actor in the soap opera called THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.   There were a few people who had told me I resembled him.  I didn’t see the resemblance but I thought it would be cool to see him on-stage at THE PANTAGES THEATER in Hollywood.   Alan got tickets and we were set for 8pm on March 25th.   It was ‘okay’…kind of “hokie”. 
Photo:  Michael Damian
Reed Campbell sent me a postcard from KING’S COLLEGE in Cambridge, England:March 25, 1993Hi Michael,I am worn out from walking through all of the sights (TOWER OF LONDON, HARRODS DEPARTMENT STORE, and CAMBRIDGE, THE COLLEGE TOWN).  We are enjoying COLD weather.  It’s crisp but no rain as of yet.  I will be back in SF on the 2nd of April.  I hope all is well with you and you are getting a start on your summer tan.Best, Reed
Dorothy Rua wrote me on a cool photographic card that I love titled STOPPING TRAFFIC.   It reminds me of Paloma and I in the mid-1980’s.  We could stop traffic when we walked down a street together.
3-26-93Dear Michael,I’m sitting here at the CRAZY HORSE SALOON in the Embassy Suites, waiting for Rosemarie to appear.  We live only ten minutes from each other but haven’t seen each other since NEW YEAR’S EVE!   Obviously, we’ve allowed our busy schedules to get the best of us.  Well, it is Friday evening and the best part of the week; looking forward to seeing a good friend with a margarita to keep me company!  What more could I ask for?   …maybe that you could join us…and Alan, too, of course.I spoke with Tonee a couple of weeks ago.  She was full of news.  Have you heard from her at all?   The highlights:Your number one girl (Merced model in the tight white skirt) is still at the SRC-SMART RESOURCE CENTER; but Susan Rotella (your number two girl) has accepted a job with Pac Tel Cellular.  Tonee has given her notice and plans to pursue other interests (whatever/wherever that may be.  The last of the ‘good guys’ has escaped!I am actively working on moving into a better job situation and hope I make my personal deadline.Have you given further thought to your next “career”?  At least you enjoy the work you’re currently doing.  I hope everything else is going well and you maintain that balance I’m always talking about.I am in search of my CHI---not an easy thing to find!  Thinking of You, as always,Love,Dorothy
And…then there was the lovely handwritten letter on CAP DE LA CORNICHE business letterhead from Paloma:

le 30/03/93Dear Michael, …I hate to move even if I’m glad to go to a bigger apartment.  You can’t imagine how much work it is going to be—just thinking about Jonathan’s room or all of the clothes and shit that we’ve kept for four years I could kill myself.  I’m going to be really busy for a while because at the same time I’m going to be working here in BALARUC until they find someone to replace us.  Alexandre is already going to be in-charge of SETE.Well, let’s talk about better things.  How was San Juan and St. Kitts?  That’s in the same area as GUADELOUPE where we’ve been last year.  We loved the Caribbean.  We almost could have met there.  We will probably go again to another Caribbean island.  We don’t know which one so tell me some more.  Did you go to a hotel?  What did you like better (St. Kitts or Hawaii)?  I would like to see Hawaii.Talking about the movies you’re telling me about I’ve heard about THE CRYING GAME because of the OSCARS.  I think they said it on TV (that it might win an award).  I’ve also heard about BECOMING COLETTER.  I like the actress, Mathilda May.  I think she is very pretty—kind of cold but very pretty.  Wasn’t the moving boring though?  You’re in search of a personal trainer.  Woooh!  It seems like things are going better for you…just don’t forget my corvette!  I know one in the Bay Area that you’ve seen once.  I don’t know if you remember one evening in a bar (the one where we’ve been once with Carmela) with a big blond guy.  I think that was the evening I almost got in a fight to save your parking place.  Do you remember that?  I haven’t been really exercising.  I’m too busy in-between my job and my home I don’t have that much time left.  You’ve got nothing to do after work almost.  I’ve got to feed three people, buy food, clean clothes, etc., etc., etc.…that explains why I like vacations that much.  I just do nothing then…but I somewhere exercise within my schedule. I, of course, don’t have the shape I used to.  I could also cry about that—but that’s especially because of Jonathan and I’d rather have him than my ex-body.  Looks are just a little part of you.   You could be ugly now and I would still love you.  I agree it is better to be good-looking (and rich and healthy than the contrary).My brother, Edouard and his wife, Lori, live in Albuquerque.  We saw him last Christmas.  We are planning to go there in the future.  Here are two T-shirts from the MAURITIUS ISLAND to make you forget how nice it was in St. Kitts.   Be careful when you wash the Lacoste one (that, of course, is not the real one).   We (Jonathan and I) have the same one as the butter long-sleeves one.  Jonathan’s is green; me in gray.  It shows the Mauritius Island in the front this way we’ll look like twins.  You will also find some pictures.  Send me some, too.  If you have some, of course…..I’m sorry I didn’t write before but I’ve been really, really busy.  First, we moved and at the same time we’ve had to tell everything about the BALARUC Residence to the new people in-charge of the place now.  And after that till now we’ve been trying to put everything in place here in SETE, and believe me, that is not easy at all.  This place is huge.This place is also a Residence (we rent apartments) but it is also a hotel with a restaurant, so a lot of people work here.  Alexandre has his own office, me too and right now I have seven people under my control.   Alexandre has about fifteen (counting me).  That’s a big responsibility and a lot of work.  I have my Wednesdays and my Sundays off (the days Jonathan doesn’t go to school).  Well, at least I hope I will be able to take them…We have a pretty nice apartment with a view of the Mediterranean Sea.  We eat that the restaurant for lunch and for dinner (that’s the good part…no more cooking!).  Jonathan lost his first tooth yesterday.  He was so excited!I watched a little bit of the AWARDS yesterday.  I recorded it (it was on in the middle of the night for us).  I’ll watch it today.  I don’t know who won yet.  I thought about you.  I’m sure you watched it. I already have to go.  I’ll write again as soon as I can.  Miss you…Love,Paloma
Alan and I went to see BORN YESTERDAY a remake of the classic 1950 film starring Judy Holliday.  This 1993 version starred MELANIE GRIFFITH.  It was all fine and dandy for a comedy romance that included her husband, Don Johnson (she divorced him in 1976, but remarried him in 1989).  “Sure, why not give marriage another whirl?”The only thing that annoys me about Melanie is her ‘little girlish’ voice.  Erg…If I had to hear that voice 24-hours a day I'd get a divorce, too.
“IF you will it, it is no dream.”“A great man said that, and I believe it.  What about YOU?  Will you act your dreams, and make them real?”--Geraldine Brooks,PEOPLE OF THE BOOK