July 29, 2003

• Last night was interesting.   Since the novelty of my being home's  worn off and I've nothing more to brag about to my family how college and L.A. life are so much better than here, it's time to get out the little black book again and see what old acquaintances I can dig up, what high school friends I've still something in common with, who hasn't gotten MARRIED and isn't insecure about single friends making off with their husbands, who's also going to school down south and Home For The Summer.   Let's see......

  
  

  Linda:   She was good fun senior year.  Oh, moved to Reno with Ted.   Tried their number but has since been disconnected.   Now what?  

  
  

  Scott:   Flat affect.  Probably cuz he finally got himself a girlfriend, and how do you like THAT for keeping him hanging?   The dork.

  
  

  Sean:  Sick with mono.

  
  

  Renee, the silly:   Never home.  Her!  

  
  

  Taysie:  It sure was fun that time I took the bus across the Bay Bridge to Oakland to work together on our Junior Achievement project and we all ended up playing pool and kicking around with the brothers in that skanky downtown club.   Bring-back-those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.   Her family's completely renovated government-subsidized apartment was so Spike Lee.   Rap music shaking the walls, her sister cornrowing in the kitchen for fifty dollars a head.   Yelling, laughter, babies.   But no, "She don't live here no more," her mother stated coldly.   "Not if I can help it."   Sorry, no culture fix for you, doll.  

  
  

  Eric:  Brett would kill me. 

  
  

  Kevvie:   Yes, Kevvie.  Aw, com'on;  beats watching TV with Dad!   Errr.  Ehhh.  Hasn't lived down that last brush off; I should've known.   On SECOND thought, "we could get together Friday for a Christian party if you want"......Naw.  "Sorry to bother you."

  
  

  Then there was Ellie.   Good old Ellie.   She just happened to have won two tickets to a Connecticut time share vacation seminar and was looking for someone to go along.   In addition to an entertaining video, there would be refreshments, door prizes, and a special drawing.   Wow, she actually went to those things.  (Chelle:  "Ellie's just like your mother, Tina.  Give us a break.")   But weren't we a bit too young for that yet?  

  
  

  "I think this one's right near The Hamptons," she chirped.   "It's the latest craze now for top notch college kids."   Yeah, so I'd heard.  Well, why not?  Brett had always talked about the Hamptons.  And of course there was "no obligation."  Leave it to Ellie.  All I had to do was meet her at four in her office; she was doing a little overtime and appreciated the company in the big empty building.  Then we could go out for dinner and hit the meeting at eight.

  
  

  I enjoyed the time dawdling in her boss's leather swivel chair by the high Plexiglas window overlooking Market Street more than the show.   As soon as we unlocked the eight-foot tall double doors to the posh, spacious office, there was a flood of ionized cool air and a peculiar hush as the noise of the city was absorbed into the lush carpet and leather furniture.  They've one of those color analysis machines like at the mall.   I played with that for a while, trying to see how many different psychological profiles I could come up with.  I snuck a peak at their company yearbook.   Most of their clients are upwardly mobile gay men, Ellie explained, many in entertainment and the arts.   Talk about CULTURE.   I actually envied her that moment.

  
  

  I helped her with some filing, then we checked out at the security desk and headed towards a cafe in a small nearby outdoor mall.  There was a nifty conservative bookstore filled with conservative types you only see in scattered pockets of the city.   The seminar was within walking distance, one of the reasons why my friend had accepted the offer.   But by the time we got there, I had a rotten formaldehyde outgas headache (or maybe it was fatigue--it had been a looong day) and could barely pay attention to the lecture.  Just when I was ready to breathe a sigh of relief that the evening was finally over, they drew my name for the grand prize:  two hundred dollars' worth of free groceries!   I was numb; the one time I win something big, it's something I can't appreciate!   Now we had to wait another half hour while the forms were filled out.   Though I politely thanked them, the sponsors, a young middle aged couple in business suits who could've been the President and First Lady, couldn't believe how I wasn't shaking everybody's hands and squealing and jumping up and down for joy over their generous gift.  They kept giving me a dirty look like, "Boy, aren't we spoiled?"  (And not one of you went in for the time share, brats!)  

  
  

  "Is this near The Hamptons?"  I held up the brochure and asked sheepishly, feeling a twinge of guilt over this bit of extravagant window shopping.

  
  

  "It doesn't need to be near The Hamptons!"   The man snapped.

  
  

  I decided to give the prize to Ellie in gratitude for the pleasant night out.   She was happy.   Then I drove Mom's car home and fell into bed and said a little prayer for Taysie, that she'll make it through all right.

  • 6:34 pm
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