An Older Woman

"Possession isn't love."
-Dante's Cove,
Season III

Twenty-five years ago today

February 7, 1986
Friday

It’s so nice when it is the end of the week. I received a call early this morning from the Placement Center in San Jose. They received my second Job Transfer Request submission. Now all I have to do is wait a couple more weeks for my status rating.

My section was all excited about our planned dinner tonight at YET WAH Restaurant.

I was amazed by a couple of shocking Installation order messes that I had to deal with (they originated with Judy, the new gal in our section who commutes to S.F. from Orangevale—near Citrus Heights).

After work I accompanied Margaret and Earl to the Castro Area. Earl’s bank is there and he had business to attend to before dinner. The three of us made it to YET WAH in the Diamond Heights area of S.F. We had one grand meal. It was fun. We started with champagne and a lot of food!

After dinner I drove Margaret to her babysitter. Judy joined us and wanted to see Lombard Street, so we went down that crooked street. That was fun when you’re tipsy with champagne. We headed over the Bay Bridge and I was thinking about what a beautiful view it was when I made a left on Market Street on to Clipper where the YET WAH Restaurant was located.

Out of the kindness of my heart I drove Judy to the CONCORD BART Station. Before I took her directly there we stopped at BAXTER’s for a drink or two…actually, it ended up being a whole bottle of wine! And lo and behold…Denise Vinsonhaler and Gaylene were both there. Denise looked nice but she was so outspoken. There was some big older dude who was swooping on Judy. I ignored him. He was gross. Judy and I danced to an A-HA song that I like called TAKE ON ME.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EXxMlIExpo

Once 11:35PM rolled around Judy and I were feeling pretty washed-up for the evening, so we left. I drove Judy to the CONCORD BART Station (that’s where her car was parked).
Denise had asked me, “Why don’t you come back after you drop her off at BART?”
“Okay,” I replied.

I didn’t think Denise would think I’d actually return and that’s why I did decide to go back. I was back at BAXTER’s in no time.  Denise is nice and I like her. Judy seems to feel that I’m smarter than Denise and that we’re both on two different levels (little does she know).  There may be some merit to what Judy said though. I tend to agree with Judy.  Although, Judy kind of shocked me because we actually “kissed” while at BAXTER’s a couple of times.  She also gave me a quick peck kiss after I dropped her off.  Yikes! She’s an older woman.  What am I—or could I---get myself into?  She’s mid-thirties and has a fifteen year old son.

While at BAXTER’s I was suddenly kissing Denise. Denise lost her ring and we were looking all over the place for it. Some fellow named Bill was swooping on Gaylene. He was from Santa Barbara but had recently transferred out to the Contra Costa area.
Bill whispered a question to me.
“So Mike, am I wasting my time on Gaylene?”
I wasn’t sure what to tell him.
I said, “Probably not.”

The four of us (Denise, myself, Gaylene and Bill) left BAXTER’s and went to DENNY’s to sober up. By 3AM I was on my way home. Oh what a night! I did enjoy myself. Life is too short not to--.

She was looking from him to me as if to measure the urgency of his desire.
-Philippa Gregory
"The Other Boleyn Girl"