The rage is rising and nothing left to punch except the wall and having done that to the consternation and dismay of my parents many years ago no need to revisit a failed solution. Judith had a good friend who lived on Maui. He moved about two years ago home to NJ.
Lunch today with the only friend from 1974 I still know whose room I sublet in La Mission 36 years ago and whose apartment I had taken over in Sacramento before that for two years. Alas. Alas. Alas. A nice day. He lives four blocks away. He had success in selling books with the buyer coming by. Retired. Owns a property in town. Has tenants. We became friends through the college Science Fiction Club called PHRED (People Hunting Really For Exceptional Designation.). He comes MASKED. I laugh. I say “What, why are you masked at this late date OUTDOORS?” He promptly mumbled co-morbidities, other people, can’t get sick, and how he is smart and takes care of his health. I laugh again. “Off a bogus PCR test, REALLLLLLY?” and we go in and have lunch - unmasked even when we left! and talk about people once we knew. I tell him about Steven from Bancroft Library who was our mutual roomate back in the day and got him caught up on why he refused to retire-books-he has several book collections he is talking to about their donation to the Library and refuses to leave after his 40 years unless they come in under his watch.
I guess it is a feature of being alone and old and poor in the Bourgeois world and a price paid for independence of mind that friends are not as we are or as we had hoped they age. And as I say this I ponder a bit on the opinion divergence. I mentioned elections were improbable given all the Biden scandals including persecuting Trump 24/7/365 and he felt Trump was far more, much more, criminal than Biden even given Hunter and Shell Corporations in which he see’s nothing of China at all. He is a High Frontier enthusiast and investor who does agree with me that China is a major player to come in Space Exploration and Development. He discounts, ignores, or knows nothing about Democrats and Chinese influence.
I am sure he injected. I do know a number of folk who have. I have no idea of the thoughts of other people today who mask, I guess, but that is about it. I simply observe. I look for a foundation. Kaiser insists masking for staff. I discovered today that I would not need to mask to teach, BUT would be required to test WEEKLY for Covid if not vaccinated. SF public Schools and all California schools require this I believe. I have checked with Substitute Vendors as well. Tomorrow I call Marin just to see.
So in any case my rage is increasing and wine and weed seem to add fuel which Susan Sontag and William Burroughs in conversation agreed was an ideal writing situation. We’ll see. Got no other fish to fry. Got no bread in the bread box.
Now that Breadbox tune is a good tune. That Fela tune. Damn. Could there be anything as exciting, intoxicating, and inviting as those horns+saxes?
I know the type, and retain the deepest compassion for him. How are they to know any better; if knowing, trust any recourse?