Now is NOW

The transformation of natural man is into love.
The second transformation is to wisdom.
-Honroe de Balzac
"Seraphita"

Twenty-five years ago today:

November 15, 1985
Friday

It was my lowliest sales day in a long time. I only had one ‘additional’ white page listing sale. I had service committee crap to deal with, so that’s my excuse. There’s no need to mention the fact that my mind is not totally on my work these days.

I was at my gym this evening, searching for Chad. He wasn’t there. No one was there…really (of any interest—that is). I arrived at 7:10PM and by 8:15PM I broke down and went over to the nearby phone booth and called Chad. He gave me some lame excuse (but understandable).
“Oh Mike, I’ve been so into school and I’m really not getting enough sleep.”
“Oh, I can understand that.”
“I did receive your cards. I really liked them.”
“Oh good,” I stated, deciding to acknowledge his tired words.
“Why don’t you come over?”

I obliged. I was over at his house and Chad was sleeping on top of Larry’s bed. I laid next to him as we half-watched an episode of MIAMI VICE as we slept (or at least shut our eyes). 

PHOTO: Miami Vice, 1985

Larry (Chad’s forty-year old pilot roommate) arrived at about 11PM. He made us hot-chocolate. We played a little gin and the Board game called ‘Masterpiece’. Larry’s friend, Randy, also played the Board game. Randy is only about twenty-years old. I won with four and a half million dollars. Larry came in second place. Chad was third and Randy was last. By the time the ‘Masterpiece’ game was over it was way passed nightfall. All signs seemed to point to my spending the night there.

I think Larry asked Chad privately, “Is Michael spending the night?”
I walked-in during that whispered question session and things became very hush-hush. Chad told me that Larry did in fact ask if I was spending the night.
I learned from Chad that he’d said to Larry, “I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
And then, it appeared to me as though Larry was crying (or his eyes were red). It beats me. Did Chad—in fact—have something going on with Larry? I just went on, acting like I was a visiting piece of the scenery. I am now curious as to whether they had MORE THAN a mere friendship in the past. I figured it doesn’t really matter. Now is NOW.


"You're special.  Give yourself special treatment."
-as heard in the 1969 film
"Midnight Cowboy"