Cherish Every Minute

"Are you happy?” “Yeah, I am.” “Why?” “I don’t know—I can’t help it.” --James Stevenson, SOMETIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS, a novel I handed the keys to the bank (officially).  The condo I bought in West Hollywood was just draining me each month.  Kim Dykstra is no longer renting it and I decided the monthly mortgage was too ridiculous to pay after Alan’s financial prowess recommended that I simply stop paying and ‘hand the keys to the bank’.  And so, I did.  I have a feeling over time I may regret it but it’s not the right expense to have now.  I’ll rebuild, save and focus anew.   I need to cherish every minute when it comes to building wealth, too.   As I often tell Alan, “I just want to be HAPPY.”  
My little brother, John Edward, turned ‘32’ on June 9th.  We’re not kids anymore.  
Former co-worker, Reed Campbell, from Pac Bell Yellow Pages sent me a nice postcard from Alaska.  I liked the photographic nature look of the eagle in-flight and the wild bear.  It’s a scene I certainly never see.  Reed wrote:  Hi Michael, 
This is from BEAUTIFUL ALASKA---Sitka to be exact.  If you ever plan a cruise this is the place for scenery and RAIN!  Or SNOW?  Our ship, the M.S. Noordham/Holland America is great.  We will be in Minneapolis on May 31st, so drop a line or come and visit. 
Best, Reed  Alan typed out a nice letter for me.  That’s a big deal for him.  I loved it though.   June 4, 1994 Dear Michael: 
I love you!  I’m HOH (Head Over Heels) in love with you!  Those are the simple facts; last week in New York was the best!  I had an outstanding time with you and cherish every minute we spent together. But we got home on Monday and by Tuesday my life went back to normal.  I was consumed with stubs, legal and accounting fees, automobile expenses and TEN WEST ASSOCIATES lack of funds.  No more money for King’s Place, Warner Creek Apartments is falling beyond my grasp and the eventual end of my TEN WEST deal.  I left out the kids who were pretty good but wanted my full attention.  It’s amazing how different one week could be from the next. 
For you as I see it, the major event of the week was your change in hours by one-hour earlier.  You also had to deal with the eventual ending of the 1010 Palm Ave #304, West Hollywood condominium debacle.  I am sure in your own way you were stressed out, too! 

All I wished for you was to spend time alone with you and have fun.  I wished for Friday night where we could just do anything!  Going into the night, I was physically and mentally exhausted (which I still am), and constant palpitations (which I still have).  As you recall, I was searching my wallet last night in the car, looking for a tranquilizer because I was afraid I was going to collapse.  In the midst of all of this you had your own agenda.  I don’t want to argue points but I just want to rehash some of your quotes in the last twelve hours: 
“I refuse to go into a movie, unless we’re early!” “Do you see that guy in that store, I’m sure he dyes his hair.” “This movie theater isn’t the largest, the largest is the one where we saw KIKA.” “I knew you wouldn’t put the CD back in the case.” “I’m going out by myself.” “I’m moving to Berkeley.” “I’m moving back with my mother.” “You think about what you’ve done!” “My evening starts at three o’clock!” We never go to LA CONVERSATION anymore, why?” “We never do this; we never do that.” 
Well, I just want to comment about one item.  I can’t help it, if you get home at 3:30pm and I get home at 6:30pm.  It’s not easy when people are on two different time schedules.  They both have to work together.   You’re not Jewish but you love to try to make me feel guilty about whatever.  I think we need to discuss why this weekend has started so badly.  My guess Is that in comparison to last weekend reality has set in and we both would rather be in New York on vacation.  
All I ask for is understanding, plenty of attention, sex, and no negative statements about me.  I am what I am, you choose me, I can change if you want but please be nice to me. 
I’m sorry that my life is always in constant stress.  I didn’t choose it.  It just happened.  I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.  Can we spend tonight together in bed or agree on something?  It’s clear that when two people have trouble agreeing on a movie, or anything else, that there is trouble. 
Please open up and discuss what’s on your mind.  That’s better than saying nasty things to me or refusing to cooperate on anything!  I want to help you and love you.  I need you to do the same for me!   Love, Alan   On June 7th, Alan and I went for an early RAYMOND dinner in Pasadena and then to the Pasadena Playhouse where we saw the show SPECIAL OCCASIONS by playwright Bernard Slade.  It explored the story of a couple’s divorce over a ten-year period and how they struggled to be friends as they often bumped into each other during special occasions (funerals, birthdays, etc.).   
I often wondered if the stars in these plays will become bigger stars.  This one starred Caroline McWilliams (as Amy) who is married to an actor, Michael Keaton (known for BATMAN RETURNS).  Michael Keaton actually has an account at Charles Schwab & Co.  Caroline divorced Keaton in 1990 so I imagine this play was an easy slice of her personal life.  They had married in 1982 and had a son named Sean Keaton born in 1983.   The actor in the lead of the play was played by Steve Vinovich.  I don’t know much about him but maybe his stage and/or screen presence will grow over time.   Alan and I enjoyed the play but I imagine it had more of an impact for Alan given the recent closure of his divorce a few years ago.  Photo:  Caroline McWilliams and Steve Vinovich





The divorce play was timely as there was big news in L.A. as June 12th arrived an O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole was murdered.  It seems it was O.J. who killed her right here in Brentwood.  Scary!   
Alan and I had an escape of fun double-feature outing with these movies:  MAVERICK (Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson had such wonderful chemistry in the film) and SPEED (Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves were action-packed and it intertwined a bit of romantic-comedy that I loved, a bit of pleasure and pain I suppose).  
“Pleasure and Pain are represented as twins because there never is one without the other.” --Leonardo DaVinci wrote about his Allegorical Drawing of Pleasure and Pain