Take Time To Dream

We’re all the same.   We all want to feel free, respected and loved.   We might give reasons as to why we’re NOT with someone—but a lot of us live alone.   Relationships are not simple.
-Paul Huljich,
BETRAYAL of Love and Freedom, a novel

Friday Night, August 18, 1989Laverne and I met up in Berkeley and went to the restaurant called SKATES ON THE BAY.  We were there to meet Dorothy Rua for a few drinks.  We laughed and we were in dream mode at the night reflections of the bay.   What a great spot to meet up.  I owe it all to Dorothy for suggesting the place.

While I am living in my mom’s house now I am still alone a lot of the time.  I thrive on my letters to keep me company.   The letters keep me company…as does my music and my movies.   It's fun to escape and go out sometimes, too.   We all need someone to share the joy. I keep dreaming of Southern California (better weather, more palm trees and beautiful beaches).  I must take my mom there to scope the scene.  I want her to see the area.   August 20, 1989
Dorothy Rua did it again.  She found a card that was so ‘me’.   I tried to imagine myself in those shoes and in that very spot.  Delightful.

Imprinted in the card was:TAKE TIME TO DREAM (and in her own writing she wrote ‘…NOT THAT YOU NEED ENCOURAGEMENT!’)Love, DDorothy additionally wrote:

8-20-89 Dear Michael,
How could I NOT think of you when I saw this card?   In its simplicity, the impact of its statement comes across with such clarity.  But then, on closer inspection, I have to chuckle—Michael would NOT be caught (even on a secluded hillside) with those “goober” shoes on!   And those “Castro Street” socks are way too much!   Overall though, I like the total picture with the statement it makes and the fact that it brings you and your dreams to mind.  I can relate…

I really enjoyed Friday evening at SKATES…and so glad you and Laverne came.  I should also say ‘so glad my original date (Tonee) finally showed up’!   There is nothing to compare with wonderful laughter among good friends!   Well…almost nothing!   Okay, I’ll keep it clean. Do hope we all manage to get together again soon.   I hope the Saturday evening in THE CITY we agreed on works out for everyone.

Talk to you later; until then you can at least take off the red shoelaces! Love, Dorothy

I spent most of Sunday (August 20th) at home.  Mom had Ashley and Holly at the house most of the day, so they kept me occupied.   We played and ‘hung out’ as only a devoted Uncle would do.   They make me laugh.   
I captured some cute photos.   Ashley was devouring a piece of cake as if it was the last slice in the world.
I also captured Ashley in three unique poses that I call “Prim and Proper”, “Sassy, Just Take IT!” and “Spiritual”.   I wonder if one could match the inventive titles to each pose as easy as I happened to see it. Mom was around but she left me alone with the girls while she went to SAFEWAY for a short while.   I took one of my all-time favorite pics of mom on this day—upon her return from the grocery store.

I tried to give Holly a lesson in jump rope action but I realized that wasn’t too productive.   Perhaps she needs more time on learning how to jump.

I wasn’t quite sure where the FUTURE NURSE from Children’s Hospital, Oakland came from but it seemed to suit Holly quite nicely.   I wondered.   Will she become a nurse?  That would be cool. And Mom offered her photographic talents using my Polaroid camera.   She snapped a cute group pic of me, Ashley and Holly to tie-up the memento of our Sunday.

  August 21, 1989Lottie wrote me from her latest home in Yreka, California.   I liked the sticker she posted on the blue envelope ‘From one of your greatest fans!’   She wrote ‘Housebook item” next to the sticker which made me smile. 
Lottie always had this line about me being a Ken Doll in search of the right Barbie.   I always laughed at that commentary.  Inside her letter she included a TV guide clipping of Ken and Barbie in dance mode.  I did like the look of that.  I must admit.

Lottie wrote:

August 20, 1989, Sunday 6:00PM Michael,
I apologize for my poor writing habits.  Time seems to be slipping by so quickly.

I am pleased for you on your new (not so new now) job.   Does it seem to be working out for you?   I am going to apply for a position in Placerville.   I do hope I am selected.  Yreka is suffocating me and working with ‘16’ women is driving e ‘stark raving bananas’!   The position in Placerville would be 60% office work and 40% field work…doing inspections on special use summer homes.  It could be fun.   Keep your fingers crossed for me! Thank you so much for my Birthday Card.   It found a special place in my house book.   I have enclosed something for your housebook.   I think of you often, Michael.  I had planned to surprise you with a visit over my Birthday (I had the week off), then I received your card telling me you were jetting off to Florida.   So I spent the week at home doing absolutely ZIP!   It was wonderful!

Your moving surprised me.  I hope it is working out well for you.  I’m a little depressed by it actually…no more SPACE ODYSSEY 2001.  C’est la vie! My latest trauma…I may have to have surgery on my neck.  It all stems from a car accident I was in when I was seventeen.   I should know for certain within the next month.   I can only hope for the best and check out the doctors carefully!

Are you still attending school?   What all is new with you?   How’s your love life?   I hope better than mine…I am going to start wearing white.  I bet that at least made you smile! Before I forget…I would like to have prints made of some of the photos you took while I was down there.  If I send you the money will you have them made for me?   I especially want the one WOMAN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

Have you heard from Soren recently?   I received a card from him in May and no word since.   I guess I should not have told him I wanted a card from Copenhagen.  Oh well… I will be going to Sacramento September 7-10.   My friend, Rick, bought tickets to Bon Jovi for the 8th.   I hope I survive.   I need your new phone number.   If time permits maybe I could come visit you that weekend?   I miss you! 

I have enclosed some things for your housebook.  I hope you like them.  Closing for now.  Take Care.  Love, Lottie (& Boo)

I loved the insert of clippings she included for my HOUSE BOOK.   She makes me laugh.   It’s great to receive letters with the latest scoop.  How else would I know?Paloma wrote again and I was happy to find her latest words in my mailbox, too.  I could feel her happiness from the very first line.

Le 22, AOUT 1989Dear Michael,
I’ve just got the best pair of jeans you sent me today.  Thank you.  I haven’t got the other ones yet.   I’ve also got a postcard you sent me in May (the one from the moon)…you know, the hard one.   Can you believe it took two months to get here! 

How was Florida?   It is so HOT here.   I love summer but right now it is really too HOT!   I bet it’s the same in California.  Our world is getting warmer all the time.  It doesn’t seem like good news! Thank you for all of the cards you’re sending me.  Keep your collection!   Did you take your mom to L.A.?   I love that drive along the coast.   I did it once with Carmela in 1985 (the year I left).   We should have done it together.  

Can you believe we’ve been writing each other for over ‘4’ years now?   It’s the first time I keep writing (and I keep getting letters) for such a long time.   I’ll send you the bike cards pretty soon.  

What do you do with your cards now?   You don’t have that room to put them in anymore, right?  (That room in your house in Alameda with all of the cards on the wall…)   I want to see LETHAL WEAPON II.  I saw the first one.   I liked it.  I like Mel Gibson.   Remember MAD MAX?  

Thanks again for the jeans! Love, Paloma

I immediately dished out a cool BIG SUR COAST, California postcard for Paloma and wrote:
8-22-89
Dear Paloma:
Mom received the dolls a couple of weeks ago.  Have you received any of the LEVI jeans?
Guess what?  I bought a condo in L.A.   It's not far from Beverly Hills.   I am so excited.  I may be moving in December or January.  I am looking forward to the Southern California switch.  I will be one block walking distance from SPAGO, a famous bar/restaurant for everyone including frequented celebrities.   So that's big news.   I'll write again later.   This Saturday, August 26th is the big fashion showcase deal.  Hopefully I'll capture the eye of an L.A. agent...if not...oh well.   Love, MichaelHow objects are handed on is all about story-telling.  I am giving you this because I love you.  Or because it was given to me.   Because I bought it somewhere special.   Because you will care for it.  Because it will complicate your life.  Because it will make someone else envious.   There is no easy story in legacy.   What is remembered and what is forgotten?  There can be a chain of forgetting, the rubbing away of previous ownership as much as the slow accretion of stories.
-Edmund de Wall,
THE HARE WITH THE AMBER EYES