It Made Me Cry

"One trouble never comes alone."
-as heard while watching
the HBO series
"John Adams"

There are NOT many situations where I find myself unexpectedly crying. The act of crying (or sweating) is an actual benefit. It helps to release endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are chemicals that act as mood-elevators and pain relievers. Most people feel physically better after having a good cry.

I remember crying many moons ago while watching a movie starring Lana Turner called "Imitation Of Life". It's a classic story. It is on the list of one of my all-time favorite films.

The other night I attended a Broadway dramatic play called "Irena's Vow". It made me cry. The story is based on a book of memoirs by Irene Gut Opdyke called "In My Hands". Irene Gut Opdyke has received international recognition for her actions:
The Israeli Holocaust Commission named her one of the Righteous Among the Nations, a title given to those who risked their lives by aiding and saving Jews during the Holocaust, and so she was presented with the Israel Medal of Honor, Israel's highest tribute, in a ceremony at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.

The Vatican has given her a special commendation.

Her story is part of a permanent exhibit in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

I will not spoil the storyline for you (should you read the book or see the touching play). I will share a couple of lines that I did take with me after seeing the play. They are words to live by.

What we do is who we are.

Every time you hear hatred you MUST stand up against it!

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 11, 1984
Friday

I enjoyed lunch at the Maya Azteca with Sharon Meadows. We talked about her work in the Public Office versus the Residence Marketing Service Office. Sharon always makes me laugh.

I telephoned Barbara in Arcata, CA. I could not believe what she said.
“Yeah, Jim spent the night here on Wednesday. In the morning he was taking a bath! I was so pissed about that! The fact that Chris always says he is going to do something about it and doesn’t keep his word is even worse,” Barbara exclaimed.
“What other times does he not keep his word?” I asked.
“Well, for example, his vow to quit smoking,” she said.
“From the amount of his telephone bill he is making way too many phone calls,” I said.
She agreed. Barb was also ‘down and out’ because her grandmother had a stroke recently. I tried to console her a bit.

When I telephoned Chris Cordellos at the Coast Guard base during my last break I learned that he was already ‘down and out’ from his busy day. I guess things had not been going so well. I decided to add fire to the flames.
“Why are you smoking? And why didn’t you tell me that Jim was spending the night?” I asked.
“I didn’t know I had to report to YOU!” Chris shouted.
I hesitated for a moment, realizing that everyone has a right to make their own decisions.
“Yeah, but don’t you think it’s a stupid choice?” I said in reference to the smoking (especially when his mother has emphysema after her years of making this choice).
It was obvious that the conversation was not going too well. He could not really talk. We decided to end it at that point.

Once I arrived home that evening I accompanied mom to ‘John and Sherri’s’ pad to see Ashley Marie.

At lunchtime Helen and I went to Emporium. I bought Ashley a dress, a doll and a summer outfit.
PHOTO: 1984: John, Sherri and baby Ashley

When mom and I arrived at 'John and Sherri's' pad Sherri’s parents, Bob and Janet Lewis, were there. My brother, Tony, stopped by, too. We all stayed there until about 8:15PM saying “goo goo” to Ashley. I wonder if she understood our feelings of joy and love.

Or maybe Ashley was thinking, “I’ve been in the dark so long. And now I have these weird faces gawking over me! Get a grip.”

When I returned home with mom I was starting to feel slightly depressed. I kept thinking about the whole Barb and Chris conversation about smoking and Jim ‘spending the night’.

I decided to start up my engine and drive out to Fremont to the StarGaze nightclub. I met a girl named Ann Sharpe of Los Altos, California. She seemed “okay”. She attends Foothill College. I gave her my business card. Will I ever hear from her again?

I lingered at the club a bit longer and met a blond gal named Marley. She was a mere sixteen year old. One must be eighteen to get into this club. How did she manage getting in? Marley said she lived in San Francisco.
“Yeah, I can give you a tour of the City,” Marley said.
Marley gave me her telephone number. The question is when shall I call? Or will I call?

There was a muscular white dude hangin’ out at the club. He was a very “questionable” one as he kept glancing in my direction. I hung out around him for a while but there was no further communication other than the eye contact. Then I just decided to split the scene. I drove home, thinking of and relying on the mending of my relationship with Chris Cordellos.