A Can Of Sardines

I was like men who openly declare other men irresistibly handsome the better to conceal that they’re aching to embrace them.--Andre Aciman, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
I’m so excited.  Alan got tickets for us to see JOAN RIVERS on January 9th.  I had mentioned that she made me laugh.  I saw her perform in San Francisco back in the 80s when she used to substitute for Johnny Carson on THE TONIGHT SHOW.  This will be fun because she’s doing a solo stand-up comic performance.  I’m just a little nervous that she might pick on me because Alan says, “I got the BEST seats!”
Alan and I were on a movie kick as we’d seen these films this month:  GLORY (a dramatic war film with Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick); ALWAYS (a Steven Spielberg romantic-comedy drama); and MUSIC BOX (about a Hungarian-American immigrant accused of being a war criminal, starring Jessica Lange).
Paloma wrote another letter describing some of her Christmas events (and she included a brochure of the LES HAUTS DE BALARUC Residence Club that she and Alexandre work/manage):
…Jonathan got tons of toys.  I really don’t know what to do with all of the toys he has anymore.  Right now we almost can’t get into his room!  He is way too spoiled but my family is crazy about him (my brothers still don’t have children and I don’t think they will).
So anyway…coming back to you…the only thing I thought you might not have in the States is something to go bike riding with a French brand on, so I went to the PEUGEOT store and I was going to get you a bicycle shirt with PEUGEOT written on it.  They just had a few left.  I didn’t like the colors that much (something like gray, yellow and black), so instead I got you the ‘shorts’.  The problem was I didn’t know your size but Alexandre tried on a pair and we tried to find out.  Now I just hope they fit you and that you like them.   Too bad I didn’t know your shoe size.  They had really nice bike shoes (Eddy Merckx).   Do you have them there?   What about PEUGEOT stuff?   The guy in the store said you didn’t but I guess he also didn’t want to lose a sale.   They also had some Z shirts (it’s Greg LeMond’s team), right?  Just don’t forget to wash your shorts before you wear them otherwise I’m not sure someone will stay around you.  They smell like fish!   

I’m also sending you two tapes we recorded for you (Alexandre and I).  I do hope you like them.  My favorite songs are “Ainsi Soit Je” by MYLENE FARMER and “Losing My Mind” by Liza Minelli (and a few others but I don’t remember them all---Oh…“Call Me” by BLONDIE.
Well, I’ve got to send this right now because the post-office is going to close down and tomorrow we’re leaving for another week.  Once more…HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Write me!Love, Paloma
Paloma’s line about having bike shorts that smelled like fish made me laugh.  It also made me crave a can of sardines.  Eating a can of sardines with some crackers on the side always made me think of my father.   As a boy, he would share and feed them this way with me (and my brother) on the front porch of our house at 1447 16th Avenue in Oakland, California.
Dorothy Rua sent another Christmas card of a lonely boy feeding a bird in the snow.  She didn’t write anything of substance in the card, simply best wishes for the holidays and the New Year (1990). 
Gloria Romero sent a Christmas card also.  She signed it:  With Love, Your Friend, Gloria, George and RAISIN, too (the dog).  I laughed about the dog named RAISIN.  It’s my least favorite food, too (especially if included in a cinnamon roll; I can tolerate the chocolate covered raisins though).

Birda Briggs (my former bike riding partner in Alameda) sent me a SANTA card and wrote a bit more.  I loved how she described the thought of parking her bike in front of the fridge:
MICHAEL,I received your postcard and I think it’s great.  I love the picture.  I put it on my drawing board, hoping it will give me ‘artistic incentive’.  I haven’t drawn too much lately.  A lot of starts…but no finish.
Bike riding is the same…a lot of starts…but no finishes.  I rode a couple of day, and then about two weeks later I tried again.  I used the excuse that I’m too sore or tired.  I guess old age is catching-up.  I park the bike in the front (right next to the TV) but it doesn’t help.  I should park it in front of the fridge!

So…you made the move.   L.A.  Fast times and traffic jams.  How do you like it?  Did you move because of the earthquake or did you move before?  Where do you work?  Or did you retire?

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas already?   The years go by so fast.  It’s scary!   It will be a year in February since I started hauling cars and it seems like yesterday.

Hopefully, I get to go to L.A. someday.   Work’s going through changes.  I’m not sure but it looks like I’ll be back to running local runs.   So the only way I’ll get to L.A. is on vacation.  I’ll know in a couple of weeks.Other than that it’s margaritas and Hershey Kisses.   So you take care.  

Keep in touch and someday we’ll ride again…even if it’s a bike with three wheels.  I heard your balance goes when you’re about ‘80’.Always, Birda…
Friday, December 29, 1989I was excited because I was expected Jim from the Gym and Cwissy to arrive from the Bay Area today.   I knew they’d be tired after the six hour drive, so we had plans to just relax at my pad.  I loved how cute they looked in their matching holiday pajamas.  I had to take a photo.  I could use it as ransom someday.  PHOTO:  JIM and CWISSY

We had a great Saturday at the beach.  We went to Santa Monica.  We were lucky with the sunshine, too. 
Once back in West Hollywood I checked my mailbox and found another card from Paloma.  The card had a bit of an Art Deco look and it was titled "Le Secret":
Dear Michael,I just came back from PARIS last night.  I didn’t write you from there because I just stayed seven days, and they were crazy days with the shopping for Christmas and stuff.  I also saw two movies:  BLACK RAIN and WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.  You’ve seen both, right?   

I thought about you many times while I was there.  I remembered when you said, “I could drive your car anytime” after seeing how I was able to drive in PARIS, remember?  Well, let me tell you that I feel way more comfortable with a shitty car than with a new car.  I didn’t drive this time but I was quite nervous with Alexandre driving!   We’ve been looking all over the place to try to find you something typical but we couldn’t find anything you wouldn’t have in the States (even the things written on the T-shirts are in English!).   I don’t know if it’s because it was sales time but I really didn’t find something I liked.   I was supposed to choose my presents but instead I got some money because I couldn’t find something I wanted.   Can you believe that?   Well, I also got a few presents:  a sweater, a belt, a pair of shoes…
Alan and I will go to Newport Beach for the weekend next week.  I’m excited for that escape.  He's great company.  The time flies when I am with him.  
LOVE ought to be even MORE.  It ought to mean, along the roads of life, the companionship of another mind, reflecting your own fortune and misfortunes, and proving to you that all is not a dream.   The idea of marriage has been to me the presence in my life of a person with whom I could talk, tomorrow, of the things that happened yesterday.--Isak Dinesen, 
Seven Gothic Tales: THE ROADS AROUND PISA