The Brunette Male Model

"It was total futility. I thought only of light things. We woke up and said to ourselves, where shall we go dancing? Where shall we eat dinner tonight? Who shall we flirt with? What shall we do to amuse ourselves? Day and night; it was the most insouciant period of my life.
-Alicia Drake
"The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris"

Twenty-five years ago today

April 21, 1986
Sunday

I am anxious to talk to Derek Hibbard (Geneva’s husband) about the Marketing Management position. I may have a chance at it since he is the interviewer. Please don’t let me strike out again. Lord! I need this new job.

I telephoned Geneva this morning; and then I called Derek and left a message on his answering machine.
I asked, “Hey Derek, do you think we can have lunch sometime this week?”
If Derek gives me a chance I will work hard for him and his department. I briefly explained to Stephanie Bautista about the job opportunity.
Derek called me back and we have a lunch date set for this Friday. Derek actually came in to my Business Office today and provided me with a packet of information on their District Organizational Chart along with a couple of reports on Teleservices and the market they provide for.  It’s all pretty interesting.  It’s different and it’s a challenge.  I’d love this career move.  I am qualified with my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with the Marketing Concentration.  My boss, Steph, may be able to help position me in as well.  I need to get Steph to talk to her boss, Larry Elkington.  Yikes!  If Dee Lyons got promoted I don’t see why I can’t either.

Margaret Lai and I ate out on Market Street. It was a beautiful day today.

I went home and napped and then headed out to the gym. Mark arrived in his sexy Sunkist half-shirt tee.
Mark said, “You know—Karen called me! You know---the twenty-one year old with the fourteen year old mentality.”
I laughed.

I typed up my resume last night. I also called Mark for his work telephone number and other specifics in order to set up his Residential telephone service.
At that time Mark said, “I called Cathy and I’m going to call Lana on Wednesday. You should call that girl from San Jose.”
And so, I followed Mark’s advice and called the girl from San Jose. She couldn’t believe it when I called.
She said, “I tried calling you around seven o’clock but you weren’t home and I felt funny leaving a message.”
“Oh, well I was at the gym.”
We had a nice chat as I was typing away, preparing my resume. She was telling me that her girlfriend, Natalie Sweet, has a four year old daughter, who was also in the car when we met them. I was surprised about that as we didn’t see a little girl in the backseat. I couldn’t wait to give Mark that scoop.

Steph Redding telephoned tonight, pleading for my participation.
“Michael, do you think you could be part of a fashion show in Napa on April 27th?”

It all sounded so silly and I didn’t really want to be part of it.
She continued, “You have to attend a model call at seven o’clock tomorrow night in Fairfield. A producer is going to be there named Chuck. You have to come because there’s going to be this big event on June 14th. I want you to be the brunette male model.”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, “I’m skeptical—but I’ll try it.”

Amy Platt was supposed to drop by my place but I will get out of that and I am going to Fairfield tomorrow night.
While at the gym I told Mark, “I’m going to Fairfield to see a group of female models tomorrow night.”
He merely smiled. He doesn't say much sometimes.
I didn’t mention the fact that I’m being considered model material. It’s kind of silly but if this producer works for Falcon Crest and such I may as well check it out. Steph insists I can get a movie role out of it. It may be exciting. Who knows? Besides that—I may meet some interesting new people.

"The further backward you look, the further forward you can see."
-Winston Churchill