My Love for Biting Necks
My old therapist used to say we are made up of different parts, some good, some bad, and that a healthy man can tolerate this ambivalence and juggle both good and bad at the same time. Mental illness is precisely about a lack of this kind of integrations—we end up losing contact with the unacceptable parts of ourselves. --Alex Michaelides, THE SILENT PATIENT
It’s Thanksgiving Week and I am—as always—very THANKFUL. I’m a GEMINI, after all (I can juggle both sides). Gloria sent me a card depicting Twin Lions of Judah and Tablets of the Law from Torah Ark of Congregation Shaarei Eli, Philadelphia from a wood carving from 1918.
Hello Michael,
It’s always such a pleasant time celebrating the holidays with you. Somehow it brightens the atmosphere. I chose this man pin because you can see his heart and that’s how I always think of you: a person who is so generous and who always thinks of others with his heart.
Love from the bottom of our hearts,
Gloria and Jack
P.S. More to come, this is Day 8 of this.
I wrote to mom on Thanksgiving Day, 9:45AM:
Dear Mom,
Enclosed you will find some memorable photos along with your trade confirmation for your wine stock. I decided to hold off on the wine order for now---to be discussed later.
I wish I was there for Thanksgiving. I am watching the parade now.
I didn’t get duplicates of these enclosed photos but I love the one on top (of me and you together)!
Love You,
Michael
And given that I had time on my hands I chose a Christmas Card and four postcard images to write to Paloma with the latest news:
November 1994, Thanksgiving Day
Dear Paloma,You won't believe this but when I was in Hong Kong I bought 3-CD's and one of them is the soundtrack to the movie we saw together: AGAINST ALL ODDS. Do you remember that? Well, I'm listening to it right now and it makes me think of us and how deep my feelings were for you at that time. Of course, not to say that they aren't deep now....
I just returned from my Far East trip two days ago. It was really fund and a major learning experience. It’s simply another world over there. My favorite cities now include: New York, Paris, Hong Kong and London.
I thought of you for Halloween, of course. I was happy to get your card when I returned and I have my mail forwarded from the Marina Del Rey address—but do not my new Pacific Palisades address. Two Sundays ago, I went for a walk in the secluded new neighborhood with Alan and we ran into Whoopi Goldberg and her husband, taking their dog for a walk. They said hello and we commented on the beautiful morning. You know...just small talk but it’s kind of funny to go for a walk and run into a neighbor like that! Ha!
For Halloween I went with Alan, John Tuzziano and Linda Williams (two friends) to West Hollywood where they clock off the streets and everyone is in costume. I work a simple rubber mask of an old hag, wrinkled-up old lady. It was fun and amusing to see everyone in costume.
I can envision a gorgeous woman like you in a cute little FIAT Panda. I don’t know the car but somehow, I can see it. I know it can be semi-stressful shopping for cars and houses. I wish you the best of luck. Please update me on the progress.
I have an office Christmas Party to attend on December 3rd. I don’t have a date to accompany me. I was thinking of hiring a beautiful escort. Ha-ha! Who knows? I still might—since you cannot go with me. Too bad I didn’t get the model, Bridget Hall’s telephone number when I met her at the Playboy Mansion. She’s a hot and coming model now and I had a photo taken with her. We talked for a good while. That AIDS Benefit Party was so much fun!
In January I’m going to a big AIDS for LIFE Annual Benefit Party that will be honoring Elton John. I plan to wear my new cashmere sportscoat that I had tailor made for me in Hong Kong. I can’t wait.
The movie, LEON, you are referring to is titled THE PROFESSIONAL here in the states. I heard it was doing well at the box office in France. I did see the preview and do want to see it. I want to see it even more now that you told me you loved it! I’ll have to check it out.
I recently saw INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. I liked FRANKENSTEIN better—have you seen that? I also enjoyed INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE because I have always loved vampire films. I guess it stems from my love for biting necks.
I haven’t seen the American Version of LA FEMME NIKITA with Bridget Fonda either. I have the original French version on VHS tape and I prefer that one—why spoil the best version by seeing a shitty version? The American version didn’t do so well at the box office, so I don’t think it’s all that great. I didn’t see NATURAL BORN KILLERS either because the title of the film sounded so violent. I still may see it someday. I will probably see PULP FICTION in a day or two because I hear it’s pretty good.
I guess I could say that I’m happy. After all I just came from a wonderful vacation in Asia. I do miss San Francisco though. I am going home from December 23rd to 26th for Christmas.
How is your son, Jonathan, and Alexandre?
I still can’t believe that last week I was at the GREAT WALL OF CHINA in Beijing (as well as China’s Shanghai). I must show you my pictures. I’ll try to pull a few out to send you once they’ve been developed.
Oh well, I have to go to the store to buy some things. I am going to Thanksgiving Dinner at Alan’s ex-wife's house believe it or not. There are to be about twenty people.
Later,
Love You,
Michael Armijo
Well, I saw PULP FICTION and I hated it! What’s with people? Why did it get the rave all over L.A.? I have no idea. Different strokes for different folks; however, this Quentin Tarantino director has a definitively unique imagination.
“I learned that there are things in his world that defy the imagination.” --T. J. Kline, THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA
