845-8435 was the phone number for the Williams house. I spent a lot of time there growing up. They seemed like a modern family, more modern than my family, or so I thought. They were modern enough for Marge to divorce Eddie Williams. I heard rumors of why that happened. Someone cheated on someone in a motel on Paramus Road.

In 7 Riverview Ave lived Edward L., Marge, Edward’s mother- Nanny, Marge’s brother- Richie Klatt, and the children- Jimmy, Susanne, Barbara, and Scott. Growing up, Barbara was one of my first friends. We got along until she discovered boys and social circles that did not include me. Jimmy was close to my brother Frank’s age; Susanne was close to my brother Brian’s age. Barbara was close to my age, but when she dropped me, I hung out with Scott, who was 8 years younger than me.

Richie Klatt was Marge’s brother; he was obviously gay but no one spoke about it. He smoked a pipe, which to this day makes me think pipe smoking is an effeminate act. Really, if I see a guy smoking a pipe, I am out of there. He enlisted in the Navy but did not see battle. I can’t say I interacted with him at all, but I do know he adored the Supremes, and it took me a long time to appreciate the Supremes thanks to the pipe smoking lavender shadow cast by Richie.

Neighborhood folklore had Richie tied up by Richie Janowsky in a backyard to a laundry pole. Richie Klatt supposedly enjoyed any contact with Richie Janowsky. These stories took place before I came of age, told to me a few times by my brother Frank.

Susanne was beautiful and had a few suitors. She was training to be a beautician and a few times my mom would send me over to 7 Riverview so Susanne could practice on my misshapen head. My mom would give me a few bucks to pass along to Susanne, always less than $5.00. Writing that now, that money was a bit more than minimum wage though back then I was embarrassed and thought it was a meager amount. It wasn’t my money and Susanne did a decent job

Barbara discovered boys before I did. She married Brian Paladino who beat me up one summer day in Kennedy Park. I probably said something to Brian and set him off but whatever it was had me sitting at a picnic table while Brian punched me repeatedly egged on by his Garibaldi Avenue punk friends and I sobbed. It took over 50 years to realize that I more than likely triggered Brian Paladino.

Scott Williams had all the best and latest toys probably given to him by his parents to overcompensate for not being around much when he was growing up. I enjoyed being at 7 Riverview and it was a situation where I could always just walk into their house since I was there so often.

Marge Williams liked my mother and a few times fixed a plate of lamb, with mint jelly and potatoes that I picked up and brought from 7 Riverview to 13 Riverview. To me and my brothers, Marge Williams was beautiful, with a younger spirit than the other neighborhood mothers.

A specific memory of mine was watching Camelot on TV, sitting next to Marge, and seeing her sing along to whatever Guinevere played by Vanessa Redgrave was singing. I equate Marge Williams with Vanessa Redgrave

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In the real world presently, I bought a pair of dress sneakers the other day. I replaced a pair that had gotten a hole on the sole. I wore them most of the week. My right heel has been hurting lately. Discomfort more than pain, but I could still walk. Once I get moving I am fine, but for the first minute I walk with a limp. I figured the sneakers still need to be broken in, so I wore a pair of comfortable dress shoes that I had been wearing occasionally.

As I left my fifth-floor walk-up apartment, I walked down the street in discomfort which was not going away as fast as I wanted. I am now fairly certain these shoes were the source of my heel discomfort. I was not about to climb four flights of stairs to change my footwear. In hindsight, I should’ve.

It got worse when I got back to Hoboken. I dragged along the streets, everything taking twice as long as I limped homeward Angel… Bill was in concerned mode, meeting me downstairs and carrying my backpack as we climbed the stairs.

As soon as I had gotten out of the shoes there was relief. I started my laundry chores and then Bill gave me a foot massage which was nice. Now things are a whole lot better though not quite at 100%, but then again, I am sitting in front of a computer

That’s how she began. No. Absolutely. Yes. I don’t remember the context. Right now I’m in an on camera meeting. I try to keep a low profile, but being on camera that’s not so easy. We all have a turn to speak on camera, whether we want to or not. I mentioned working in the belly of the fruit stand and thanked my teammates by name, Janis, Kimberly, Violet and Yancy.

That was it. It took less than 30 secs and no need for a follow up. This weekend is Halloween and it’s on a Saturday. A lot of people work from home so there is an office event today, Thursday. It’s in the belly of the fruit stand and I am not there today so my presence is not asked for nor required.

I will be required to attend a meeting in person tomorrow morning. Once a month is all they ask and I try to get that going to my advantage. Maybe a few extra minutes of sleep, that’s what I’m after. If I can, and I think I can, I will be grateful. Right now I feel like I could sleep, perhaps nap. But once again, it’s not my decision.

The decision was made by Yancy to postpone tomorrow’s meeting until Friday the 13th in November. No extra sleep for little old me.

I do have decisions that I wrestle with from time to time. Usually about cigars. I am addicted to cigars. Every now and then I tell myself I should not order more, but then I find myself ordering more. I’m a weakling it seems but it is something I keep going back to.

I just had a psychic flash of Connie. Specifically riding through Sandy Hook National Park. It’s been a while since I last tried communicating with her. I’ve left voicemail and Connie is not too tech savvy, even with the most basic apps like voicemail. I just sent a text to a mutual friend who might know better than anyone who is not a Poulakos

He does try to be clever, this friend, and at one time I’m sure he might’ve been. But that was like over 30 years ago or so. I maybe wrong but that is all I got. He’s trying to arrange a FaceTime group which might be more than the old girl can handle.

I certainly ate a lot this morning. Now I’m not hungry, the clock says otherwise.

I’ve been doing my writing on the iPad and it’s mostly been good though sometimes
it has a mind of it’s own.

There’s a guy here that wants to go out for drinks after work sometime. I’m not much of a drinker these days. Though I’m sure a beer wouldn’t be too much trouble, at the end of the day I just want to go home. He’s a good looking Indian dude, definitely queer.

Then there is a new guy who just gave me a snow globe. I’m not sure of his sexuality. We get along fine. I mentioned the snow globe makes me think of Barbara from Ted Lasso and we started how much we both love Ted Lasso. He’s only seen the first season so we couldn’t get much further than that.

So maybe there are two fellas interested in me. And then there is the brother holding the door at Wendy’s. Oh he’s a bit rough around the edges, got the Durag goin’,and he’s got a voice that would sound great in the bedroom. I interact with him maybe once a week, but this week has been twice. I give him $2.00 just for holding the door, a small price to pay for proximity to his overwhelming machismo.

It’s all just a fantasy, nothing will come of it. And I am fine with that.

Patrick Stewart died today. Barbara Barrie died yesterday.