Another Friday with a bit of busy-ness in between since the last one. This time I was not going down to the valley. Gradually I tried to cut back on that from every other week to every third or even longer. It mostly worked better for me that way. There was little I could contribute to the 'situation' down there anyway, plus it helped me maintain sanity!
Jan 13, 1967
It was a lovely day for Friday the 13th. I walked miles and spent some money and and got some RR car numbers after a long absence from such. I got my new glasses too--I am not sure I like them but all the girls do. They cost me $7.18, not bad, really. And they are paid for anyway. In the evening Carol and I went to the movie uptown especially to see The Appaloosa with Marlon Brando. It was really good but awfully different from the book. The other western was just so-so. Tomorrow I'll rail watch I guess. We saw ATSF Train #2 westbound (The Grand Canyon) on our way home. I'd like to be aboard, (Dusty had often used it to go back to Kingman weekends but I do not think he did that night) but don't know where I'd go. I'm tired now, dead weary and worn from my "forced gaiety" and running around all day.
The new glasses I mention I think were the "pawn shop window" jeweled cat-eye style that I began to regret almost at once--too sparkly and too extreme, really not my style. A kind of rebellion I guess. I think I broke them, very accidentally, and went to a more conservative style before long. As for forced gaiety, it was always a let-down after being with Dusty, which in many ways was a third life wedged in between the other two. It did hurt that I could not make it a much larger part of my overall lives than it was. I still had great hopes and always felt so very right being together but how could we make it work out? So I sometimes had to make myself act happy and involve myself in some "college life" which was often still a bit strange, alien and not-quite real.
So back to pick up the 7th
Saturday I had my stitches out in Dr Pecharich's.(Dental office in Cottonwood). I can't remember what they were for--maybe minor oral surgery with a wisdom tooth? He assured me he would readily help me if I needed anything at school and encouraged me to go ahead and go to summer school. He was a good friend to all of us. Charlie Mike and I rode, saw Earl heading out and gave him a wave and a wahoo. The landscape looks better around there now! Sunday we went up on Mingus to get fire wood. It was cold but a pretty day. I enjoyed it although we got back late and had to rush through unloading, chores and a fast supper. I barely made the bus and was tired enough to be half asleep all the way up the hill. For the time being I am "good people" again. Often so confusing! The Boss gave me $3.00 (wow!)-- bus fare plus, that was. And I kissed him in front of the ear on my way out.
Monday the 9th was an ordinary day of classes. I ran up to Safeway after the last one and got a bag of cookies, some soap and Clairol "Light Red Blonde"; that was kind of an impulse. It ended up being the reddest I ever had and I liked it but wondered how Dusty especially would react. I was wrapping up my evening study about 10:30 when I had a phone call. Yes, it was Dusty and I soon had a date for 7:00 Tuesday evening. That day seemed very long but my future roommate came by about 5:00 and we talked. I'm sure we will get along. At 7:00 I signed out "to the library" and went to look for the Little Bluebird. He was not much late. I slipped in and we drove. Out east this time but ended up parked right beside the tracks again. The initial slight strangeness and adjustment of the fall was past now and it was so good to be together with enough time to snuggle and talk. It felt so natural and so right, perfectly comfortable and connected. He was talking about Shorty telling him I wasn't around anymore. We had to laugh. I never felt Shorty, a long term gang member, disapproved of me or our relationship. He was a funny little guy but nice.
Wednesday was a very pretty day, almost feeling like spring but just a false hint at that time. I walked to town after class, got some jewelry at Goodwill and read confession mags at the market next door, still thinking about writing for them. Rodeo club after supper--it is such a mess I almost regret being in it. To even the balance, I had to hear from Sir Jim the next day. I didn't think it should matter but it did, enough that I answered right away. Am I a fickle floozy? No, not really. But he was a friend and a useful one at that. No, it was not and would never be even a temporary 'fix' of romance and I always knew that. We would never be more than platonic though truly friends and I knew I needed all the friends I could connect with. He was a kind of support system through the spring and into the summer.
Pictures? Odds and ends at this point and only slightly relevant. First: although this was years earlier, it is a view of the "mining claim" area up on Mingus where we cut lots of wood, first for corrals etc and then for firewood. The Mingus Fire of 1956 had left lots of dead trees standing. Next is a view out a window in North Quad; this was actually from my first room in Campbell the next fall, but the room I moved to in January with the new roommate is directly across--the window farthest to the right in the photo. Snow was a common sight as were icicles! Finally a beginning try at the 'photoshop' I created of Dusty and me together; this early one was rough and I did it sepia tone to make it look old! The final version was better and the only way I could have a picture to remember us together. I always wished I had Charlie Mike take one or two. Just did not think of it then.
No comments:
Post a Comment