Stress Management Technique

"I knew I liked boys more than I should.
I had already had a torrid,
if one-sided, affair with Montgomery Clift and several other actors
I saw on late-night movies on TV."
-John DiCarlo
"Telling Tales Out of School"

The other day I received an email from Barbara Reynolds about the latest 'stress management technique' that is being recommended in psychological journals. It supposedly really works. Personally, I think it might work best if a gentle voice is reading the suggestions:

1. Picture yourself lying on your belly on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.

2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water.

3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air.

4. No one knows your secret place.

5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world.

6. The soothing sound of a gentle water fall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

7. The water is so crystal clear that you can easily make out the face of the person you are holding underwater

Twenty-five years ago today:

April 16, 1984
Monday

When I telephoned Chris at 9:30AM this morning I was pleased to hear his voice. He was overjoyed to hear from me.
"I wanted to make sure you and Barb arrived home okay."
"Yeah, when we got here we went to see Lyle. I was talking to him about you, the Billy Idol Concert and the time we've been spending together," Chris explained.
Chris continued, "And Clay says he is going to come up and spend like thirty days with us!"
I just don't like that Clay is trying to influence Chris against me. Clay has never even met me!
PHOTO: Student Stress, Cambridge, England, July 2008

Helen, Tony and I shared tuna sandwiches for lunch. The work day flew by quickly. When I arrived home I went bike riding until 6:30PM. The batteries on my SONY headphones are running low and that interferes with my bike riding musical experience.

I ate BBQ chicken and relaxed as I watched 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'Wheel Of Fortune'. I started to dwell on my earlier conversation with Chris. I almost had the impression that he couldn't really talk because Barb was in the room.
"I guess I'll see you in May," I had said.
"Okay," Chris replied nonchalantly.
Just then...my doorbell rang. To my shock and speechlessness I could not believe my eyes. It was Chris and Barb right there at my doorstep!

We fed 'James the Dog' some ALPO. Then we went to 'The Royal Pub' but the service was horrible, so we left. We eventually found ourselves at 'The Lung Kong Restaurant' for eats along with a bottle of champagne. I treated them to dinner. Afterwards we went to McGee's bar on Park Street in Alameda. This led to more talking, laughing and drinking. We hopped out and over to Croll's on Webster Street, too.
"I have to talk to you," Chris whispered.
I was bummed out. I learned through his whispers that Clay and his old friends are trying to influence him to 'later me'.
"They think we should just be friends," Chris confided.
I was confused. Just this morning he seemed to realize something totally different.

By 12:30AM we were back at my house. I showed Chris some of my family pictures. I saw tears show up in his eyes. It was because he was feeling very close to me. I felt truly touched by his sensitivity. It made me feel that Chris was my very favorite person and 'best friend'.

Barb lounged in the living room as Chris and I politely excused ourselves to the backyard area. We rapped about our happiness and held things 'close knit' and 'very together'. We have good vibes right now. Despite our small quibbles I just want to be happy. He seems to want the same.

Chris and Barb are coming to visit me tomorrow during my lunch hour.