Dear Friends,
As I’ve mentioned many times, brains are funny things. You can think beautiful, amazing thoughts. You can think terrible things that shake you to the core. You can also remember little pieces of your life randomly, like I did yesterday, that you haven’t thought of for years and years.
It’s not particularly exciting, but when I was in my late teens I worked off and on cleaning houses with my mom’s friend, Peter. He was one of our customers at Easy Street. The pay was good and the work was not easy, but it wasn’t terrible, either.
Peter was like 6’5” and as gay as the day is long. He was one of the first men I knew who carried a purse. That didn’t bother me at all. He was super cool to me, always, and even hired several of my friends over the years to work for him from time to time, too.
I remember one time we were cleaning a house in Paradise Valley. It was a really swanky pad in the hills near the Country Club. Peter greeted the owner, a guy I kind of recognized, with a big kiss. This was odd to me, but again, I didn’t care and wasn’t fazed. He told me what to do and I got started.
While I was working, I overheard the owners of the house talking shit about Peter. After the very warm greeting I witnessed, I thought it was super lame. So, as I was cleaning, I started loosening screws around the house when I came across them. Nothing major, but just things that would eventually fall apart or possibly not bear a lot of weight. It felt like I was sticking up for my friend and sometime boss.
I had totally forgotten about that. I got a good laugh telling my roommates about it at the time, too, but now it is a little embarrassing. I probably should have told Peter, but I didn’t know how at the time. I wonder if Peter is still alive? He’d be in his 70s at this point.
*****
Day two of the school year was a rousing success. The students are ready to learn. I gave them their first writing assignment and got to see how they communicate with their words. On the whole, it was pretty good. We have a lot of work to do this year, but it’s going to be very doable.
Here’s to growth.
*****
I know I promised to get back into The Bet, but my brain has just not been there recently. With all the writing I have to do between now and Monday, it’s probably going to be a few more days. I’m curious as to what is going to happen at the hospital. Marcy is in some trouble, I think, but maybe not. She might be a miracle worker. Gambling might just not be a bad thing after all.
*****
See you tomorrow.
Just outside my classroom.
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