Kiss-Me-Quick

Far too much of the kiss-me-quick business going on.
-John Rolfe Gardiner
"Somewhere In France", a novel

I was sent a series of comments by children who had to complete an assignment by writing about the OCEAN. I loved what they wrote:

Mermaids live in the ocean. I like mermaids. They are beautiful and I like their shiny tails, but how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really?
--Helen, age 6

I'm not going to write about the ocean. My baby brother is always crying, my Dad keeps yelling at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write.
--Amy, age 6

Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers.
--Christopher, age 7

When you go swimming in the ocean, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small.
Kevin, age 6

Divers have to be safe when they go under the water. Divers can't go down alone, so they have to go down on each other.
--Becky, age 8

On vacation my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired right up her big fat ass..
--Julie, age 7

The ocean is made up of water and fish. Why the fish don't drown I don't know.
--Bobby, age 6

My dad was a sailor on the ocean. He knows all about the ocean. What he doesn't know is why he quit being a sailor and married my mom.
--James, age 7

Twenty-five years ago today:

February 23, 1985
Saturday

I woke up to a phone call. It was the alias "Seth". I learned that Seth's real name is actually Bruce Diamond.
"So what are you doing tonight," Bruce asked.
"I was thinking of laying out on the beach today. And tonight I plan to go to the Galleria with Paloma."
"I want to meet this Paloma."
"Well, maybe you will."
"When?"
"Why don't I call you later and I'll see if I can get you in as a guest at the Galleria tonight?"
"Okay, call me."

I telephoned Paloma to confirm tonight.

Suzy Miller telephoned to verify our Ole's Waffle Shop breakfast outing. I suggested we do it via bike ride and she was all for it. I was feeling bad because Dale and I were to go bike riding but he never did call. I wasn't about to dwell on it. It was all tentative anyway. I will see Dale tonight.
It's funny how Dale answered my question, "What was it about Paloma that made you think she was bi?"
"Oh...because of the look in her eyes."

Suzy had me talking to her. I was turning my head looking one way by her swimming pool and I ended up getting a darker tan on one side of my face than the other. We laughed about it. We had fun at Ole's Waffle Shop, too. We had a lot of little updates to share with one another.
"I'm planning on getting a roommate soon, too."
"You should. My roommate is never there, so why not? Maybe you'll get one like that."
We continued to ride our bikes together and laid out a little more. I felt like somebody was watching me. It was likely my imagination.

I rode on to mom's house and started to watch Max Dugan Returns (some movie) but couldn't really get into it. I went home to get ready for the outing to the Galleria in The City.

I telephoned Paloma to let her know I was leaving my house now. I picked her up at around 8:15PM. We arrived at the Galleria by 9PM. There weren't a lot of people from my office. I saw quite a few from other departments. I did see Dale Orlando, Barbara Reynolds, Michelle Falls, B.J. Fife, Patty Reid, Mike Wittler, Earl Kirk, Bill Fein, and Kevin Kane. There wasn't anyone else that I knew.

Paloma and I had a good time. We did a lot of slow-dancing for a change. We also did a lot of body-building talk. By midnight we were beat tired. I was home and in my bed by 12:45AM. It was a short, but eventful night. The appetizers and pastries were good.

It's like Oscar Wilde says.
We regret only those things we didn't do.
-Christopher Bram
"Surprising Myself", a novel