Inner Beauty

It is always wise to periodically take a moment to assess, tote up the score, and then proceed.
-John Katzenbach
"The Analyst"

PHOTO: Michael Armijo, Tony Armijo
and daughter, Lauren--1986

Twenty-five years ago today

January 23, 1986
Thursday

It rained this morning. It was pouring so hard as I drove over the Bay Bridge. In Alameda it wasn’t raining, yet now upon arriving in to The City the sun is suddenly coming out.

Helen invited me to dinner tonight. I intend to be there. It ought to be fun.

I’m just going to hate the people that mention my healing chin today. It’s not like I’m unaware that it’s there. I don’t need to be reminded of it. Oh well…

I hope they offer overtime next week or something.  Maybe I’ll win the Publishers Clearing House. Ha-ha.

I was right.  I got a lot of comments regarding what had happened to my chin.  I tried to shrug it off, knowing full well people were looking at it when I was spoken to.  What the hell—it’s a passing phase.  The accident will clear itself up eventually.  The best thing to remember about it all is that I can go on and ignore a mishap on my face without worrying about what other people think (knowing full well that it’s my inner beauty that people should really like).

There were thirty-six baby pictures received in all.  Most of them were good.  Four employees (Tim Matthew, Diana Brock, Lanie (the order writer clerk) and Susan Bickley) all had thirty-three correct guesses when it came to identifying the baby photos. Personally, I think Lanie should be the winner because I don’t think she really collaborated and compared notes with other employees.

My brother, Tony, joined me in my car after work.  We drove to his pad where we immediately could take in the aroma of the fresh lasagna that Helen was preparing.  I played with Lauren Michael.  She was being such a ‘cutie pie’.  We were waiting for Don Starkey to arrive but he went to some stupid Career Directions Testing seminar which wasn’t over until 7PM.  So we waited and waited (as my stomach growled) for the other guest to finally show up.  It was a fine dinner though.

I drove over to mom and dad’s house, arriving at 9:05PM.  Mom was still sick with her cold.  Her nose was chafed from blowing so much.  I stayed with her for a while and she loaned me a couple of bucks for my parking tomorrow.  I confided with her about how I deposited my full $784 check in the bank to cover all of the checks I had written.  I’ll have to ask Steph to cash the check I wrote to her on February 14th so that my other checks won’t bounce.

PHOTO: Halloween, 1985
Michael J Armijo, Mary McTiernan

While at my place I telephoned Chad, leaving a message on his answering machine. When he called me back I learned that he had stopped at Seven-Eleven for junk food.
“So what do you think about that party next Friday at that new gym in San Francisco?” I asked.
“Which one?”
“You know---the one that Mary McTiernan wants you to go to--. And Ron Shelly’s surprise party for Nancy is tomorrow but I’m not going due to a lack of funds and the scab on my chin!”
“Well that’s okay if you don’t go to that party. I’m invited to another birthday party tomorrow night.”

I closed our conversation soon after, realizing I wouldn’t be seeing him tomorrow.
I did about a half-hour of aerobics and ten minutes of non-stop jump roping. Then it was time to turn in and go under the covers.


I thought about how I don’t really want Chad to see me with this ugly scab on my chin anyway. Maybe I’ll ride my bike all day Saturday.  I know that I want to do more aerobics on Friday night, including go to the gym later in the night when there are fewer folks around.  I feel embarrassed to be seen with my scab on my chin.  I know I shouldn’t, knowing that beauty is skin deep. So hell…


Chad received the card/letter I sent him of the Cadillac Convertible with a relaxing westerner in a desolate desert.  I guess he liked it.
Chad exclaimed, “I re-read it before I went to bed.”
He had also mentioned some test he had in the morning, so I said good-bye and goodnight.

PHOTO: 1986, Ryan Hargrave, Bob Gross, Karyn Kossoff

A kind of neat thing happened today at the office.
Fellow coworker Bob Gross said to me, “Michael, you really look good today.”
Despite the mishap on my chin I felt so appreciative of his words. It made me feel good. That made my day.


Paul Margolis, another coworker, supposedly likes me. This is what Cindy Chow is suggesting because Paul slipped me a BAR Magazine (a gay newspaper supplement). He is so “NMT” (Not My Type).


Margaret Lai guessed my baby picture to be the one that is actually Diana Brock. Ha-ha. Tomorrow I announce the winner of the Office Baby Contest.

I have to remember that when things are worst, there is always something that happens that lifts the heart.
-May Sarton
Journal entry December 6, 1993
"At Eighty-Two, A Journal"