Ping-Pong

We both kept this little Ping-Pong game going:  not knowing, not-not knowing, and not-not-not knowing?
-Andre Aciman, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

I’ve made my decision to leave the SMART RESOURCE CENTER job in Walnut Creek and retreat to my old job in San Francisco where I’m appreciated and honored.   Why do I need to be in an environment where the higher management ‘woman’ hates me (without really knowing me) just because I was hired from within the company (while most of the others were hired off the street and fear losing the job).   My notice is quite fitting with Bette Midler’s song that keeps playing (WING BENEATH MY WINGS).   Every time I hear that song I think of that stupid SMART RESOURCE CENTER and I immediately change the station.   ‘It must have been cold there…’ are the beginning words of that song.   How could it not make me think of that stale place?   I’m anxious to see the new James Bond film LICENSE TO KILL.   I like the new James Bond, Timothy Dalton.   He actually reminds me of Steven Antol a bit because of the dark hair and blue eyes.   Speaking of the culprit…his letters are far and few between.   It’s a shame to not know.   I am wondering if he is back in a courtship phase with his ex-boyfriend, the Hawaiian known as Kuala.   That name reminds me of a Koala bear. 

I wonder what he looks like.   We had such a nicePing-Pong game going but I’m still waiting on him to make his next serve.   Why hasn't he written?In the previous James Bond film called THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (from 1987) in which Timothy Dalton also had the prized role as 007 there was a love interest that appealed to me.   She was blond.   I find her to have an uncanny resemblance to Blake Bell who is in my acting class at ELITE MODELS in San Francisco.   She does look a lot like her and they’re both of ENGLISH descent.   The actress is named Maryam d’Abo.   I bet Blake is related to her via some bloodline.  I think Blake has taken a strong like to me; however, she’s got issues with her dad who is an alcoholic.   She confessed to learning a lot by attending Al-Anon meetings.
PHOTO:  Maryam d’Abo

June 14, 1989It was Wednesday and I was all for breaking the monotony of the work week.   Chris Hicks and Jim from the Gym wanted to go out.   I obliged.  

I told Chris, “As long as they don’t play that I’LL BE LOVING YOU FOREVER song by New Kids on the Block…I’m sick of it.Christinge laughed hysterically loud as she often does.  I adore the sound of her laugh.
PHOTO:  Christine Hicks,
June 14, 1989 during our night out on the town

June 18, 1989
I received another letter from Dorothy Rua.   I’m growing so attached to each and every piece of correspondence I receive from Dorothy and all that write to me.  She is the only true reward from by brief stint while working in Walnut Creek.   Dorothy wrote:

Dear Michael, I can’t help but think of you when I see a card shop.   I saw these over the weekend in the city of Sausalito.

What would we do without the MERCED crew?   Or Pacific Bell Directory’s SMART RESOURCE CENTER for that matter…   Of course I will always be glad PBD gave me the opportunity to meet a good friend like you!   Let’s stay in-touch no matter where our paths lead us.   Good friendships should be treasured.

If we can’t have lunch before you go to Florida we’ll work something out when you get back.   Have a great time on the beach with all of those beauties.   Love, D P.S. The California Watermelons wouldn’t fit in the envelope.

On June 18, 1989 I found a cool turquoise colored envelope (Paloma's favorite color) and a cool fashionable shirt/tie paper to go with it, so I decided to write to Paloma once again.   I wrote a few French phrases on the envelope to impress her.  I hope she will take notice:

Dear Paloma,
What's the scoop?   Are you still moving?  Here are a few photos taken of me in Hawaii in May 89.  I was still '29' then.   And now it's the BIG 30.  Yikes.   There's also a photo of a porcelain ceramic doll (one that my mom has, so you can see).  Do you ever see any of these porcelain dolls around in France? 

On August 26th I'm going to be in this major model showcase event for ELITE MODEL MANAGEMENT and agents are coming from all over the world (so they say) to see which models they may want to represent.   Maybe I'll get lucky and an agent will want me in LA, NY or PARIS...we'll see. 

I hope you like this card.   I thought it was pretty cool.  My mom's making French toast this Sunday morning.   Today is Father's Day--tell Alexandre "Happy Dad's Day" for me.   You can keep those photos or throw darts at them (or trash them...whatever).  

How are things in Balaruc?    Is the Residence Club fun?   I'll be in touch.
Always, Love,
Michael Armijo

‘Even when one is no longer attached to things, it’s still something to have been attached to them because it was always for reasons which other people didn’t grasp…’ 
–Edmund de Waal,
THE HARE WITH THE AMBER EYES