Comforting A Good Man

All sons should write down every word of what their fathers have to say to them.
-Abraham Verghese
"Cutting For Stone"

Twenty-five years ago today

February 5, 1986
Wednesday

I managed to arrive at work at 7AM once again today. It was an unlucky morning though. I received a parking ticket. The ‘broken meter’ trick didn’t work today! I couldn’t do anything but try not to dwell on it. Margaret Lai was less than comforting. She kept going on and on with “should haves” and “should have nots”.
“You don’t have to yell!” I blurted firmly.
She shut-up real fast.
C’est la vie.

I had a few fouled up orders today. All went fairly well by five o’clock.

I received a call from mom. I like when she calls me at work.
Mom said, “You have a thirty-three dollar check here from Blue Cross for your dermatology appointment.”
“That’s great. I can use it,” I said, telling her about the disappointing parking ticket.

I am anxious to inquire with a good beauty salon about a facial and a haircut.

When I arrived home I receive a phone call from Sherri.
“Could you walk over to our house and tell John to call me?”
I did as she requested and found John and Ashley watching cartoons in the family room. Ashley looked so cute. I didn’t stay long. John and Ashley got ready to meet Sherri for dinner somewhere.

I went to see Dad for a while. I handed him the January 1986 monthly rent check. It’s nice that I can be a few days late with that check (I know—more like a month). I talked to Dad for a while. He was kind of tired because he is doing a different job at Del Monte Corporation now that they moved his old job to the Modesto location.
I said, “Dad, any new job is hard at first. As you get to know it, understand it and get used to it--it becomes second nature.”
Dad smiled. I think he liked what I said.  It comforted him.

I went to the gym and I saw ‘Mark Landreth’. I see him practically every day now. Anne Alberti, the aerobics instructor, was there, too. She locked eyes with me.
I stopped her route to the aerobics room and asked, “Anne, are you ashamed of me for not attending your class lately?”
“Yes!”
I laughed, “Well, you’ve inspired me again, so I’ll show up soon.”
I just may go for it one more time. She’s not easy.

After my weight-training workout I returned home to eats and DYNASTY. I did a little ESQUIRE Magazine reading, too.

THE COLOR PURPLE and OUT OF AFRICA ran away with a lot of Academy Award nominations. I think Anne Bancroft will win Best Actress for AGNES OF GOD (even though I haven’t seen the film she deserves it).
PHOTO: actress, Anne Bancroft
as Mother Miriam Ruth

I read an article on AIDS and how so many fantastic and bright people are working on a cure. New discoveries are learned weekly but nothing as far as a total vaccine. The article sounded hopeful and very sure that one day (who knows when?) a cure will be found. If it becomes an epidemic in the USA and worldwide I predict a vaccine will be found soon enough.

As per Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio-
What he meant by good men:
'To me the term good man means someone who knows how to do things well-That is knows how to do his art well-
So in painting a good man knows how to paint well and imitate natural things well.
-Peter Robb
"M-The Man Who Became Caravaggio"