On Top of the World

Someone who's on top of the world isn't much of an observer: Happy people are poor psychologists. But someone who's troubled about something is on the alert. The perceived threat sharpens his senses--he takes in more than he usually does.
-Stefan Zweig
"The Post-Office Girl"

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 23, 1985
Thursday

Rachelle is just plain overly possessive. She continuously keeps acting ‘knit picky’ and domineering. I don’t like it at all!

At lunch Dale and I ate with Sherri over on Market Street once again. Ryan walked by and decided to join us. Sherri wasn’t being very open-minded but is learning to be more open than she used to be.
She said to Dale, “There are a lot of fags in my office.”
Later she had told me during the drive home that she detected that Ryan might be gay as she overheard some of the conversation that Dale and he were having. I pretty much kept my mouth shut, figuring it wasn’t my business to talk about other people’s sexuality preferences.

I dropped Sherri at her home and then went to receive the good news of the day. My IRS refund check was mailed on May 24, 1985. I also received a HAPPY BIRTHDAY card from Paloma in Paris. I wrote her back and told her about Rachelle. I wonder how she will react.

Cedric Green called me and told me of his opera singing debut at the Paramount Theater in Oakland on June 8th. I may attend.

I decided to call Rachelle.
“Do you want to go to the Opera or the baseball game on Friday night?”
I explained how Dale had won the baseball tickets at work and could not attend. Rachelle wasn’t thrilled about the Opera or the baseball game. She even made a jealous remark about Dale and me attending a ‘Greeting Card’ Show in San Francisco. She was more interested in going to the ‘Greeting Card’ Show than the Opera or the baseball game. What a pain.

My letter to Paloma (I dated it the next day, May 24th, because that was when I was mailing it):

May 24, 1985
Paloma Dear,
Here’s the latest. I’m still dating Rachelle. She has a nice body (but not as good as yours). She’s cute and I think she likes me a lot because she looks up to me because she’s so young (18). I know—I’m robbing the cradle. At this point…I won’t say much more.

I still have deep feelings for you and want to see you again. As time passes I wonder and have flashbacks of you.

Don’t these teddy bears look like they’re having a comfortable time at the beach? The one in the blue and white striped bikini reminds me of you (Body & ALL) now that you’ve been slacking off on your workouts!

I’m getting old. The big 26 will be here on Sunday. I’m excited about it actually. Hurrah.

I still haven’t gone to Bonnie’s to get my belt. Do you still have junk there? Are they going to send it to you?

I received a message from Marty that you called. I’ve called you a couple times but there was no answer. I’ll try again sometime soon. I also got a call from a friend of yours named Brad. He wasn’t home and I left a message for him on his recorder but he hasn’t called me back yet.

Apparently you could not get everything you wanted in this world.
-Stieg Larsson
"The Girl Who Played With Fire"