Back at the fruit stand. Quieter today. Not complaining and here I am typing out various letters, words and sentences before the day. Yesterday this would have been unthinkable. Today it’s thinkable. Bill was running around Manhattan last night, came home in time to watch 2 episodes of Jeopardy. We are almost caught up. I went to bed before Bill did. He had paperwork and whatnot to do so I was in bed by 10:30. And 10:30 PM is the sweet spot for me to go to bed, though my mind and body start to stir around 6:00 AM, wondering if it is indeed time to wake up and start the day. Then my bladder speaks up and insists that it is time to get out of bed and to visit the other side of the apartment.

I just had a slightly hairy situation. A young man with an oceanic name came up to me at my solo desk. He was assigned a temporary badge for the fruit stand yesterday and as temporary things go, it expired in the middle of the night. I was in proximity when the young man was given a temporary badge but not fully present. And a renewal was warranted. I fished around and finally was able to connect with Kimberly who walked me through the details of fruit stand workers and their temporary badges. The young man with the oceanic name was patient as I tried to maintain some sense of professionalism. I called myself an OG. Not original gangster but rather ‘Old Guy’.

Bill is out in Queens working on a reading that is going on this Sunday. He is stage managing the reading. Mike is going crazy with AI programs. He made a lovely image of David Bowie and me based on this morning’s attendance at the major fruit stand. He made an AI image of the Beatles and me, but I was smaller than the four of them, and it was various years/ages of the Fabs, not that Mike would notice.

Though I have been trying to eat better and perhaps lose some weight, the weight is more than likely here to stay. The weather is getting better, and I might just go for a bike ride this week, if not soon. I don’t know what to expect for this weekend, and I am hoping for the best. They are culling the deer population at Liberty State Park so it might not even be accessible.

I am sitting at where Lex Luthor used to sit. He’s officially a thing of the past. I accidentally let the cat out of the bag when I asked about Lex’s well-being when talking to our mutual counselor. She said he was fine, and I mentioned that I hope he gets help with a 12-step program or something like that. It was the first time the counselor had heard of it since modern-day companies do not say anything untoward about former employees.

This is why I would not make it as an employment counselor or a guidance counselor. I can keep a secret if asked, but if no one asks me not to spill the beans, beans will be spilt.

Listening to ‘If I Was Your Girlfriend’ by Prince and remembering Maurice Menares lip syncing and dancing in front of the Maxwells’ jukebox. Sweet times, so long ago. Last I saw, Maurice was in Tribeca near where I worked. It had been ages since I had seen him and then saw him a few times over the course of a few months. Now I am no longer in Tribeca and I could not tell you whether or not he is. No beans here.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Summer-like temperatures in the 70’s. It was a busy day at the major fruit stand today. Big plans were had. 50 years of selling fruit. Started out with three guys, a few weeks later it was two guys. Don’t know who the third guy was. I guess it doesn’t really matter. They got paid.

I was anxious and apprehensive last night. Bill came home and that relieved some of that anxious apprehension. A hug did the trick. I missed the big lug. Of course, 10 minutes after coming home he was driving me crazy. Good crazy of course. He had hisstoreis to tell, I had my stories to tell and then there were stories about Mike which were also told.

It was busy at the main fruit stand. Hundreds of guests coming in. Some followed the protocols, some didn’t. Some of those that did had problems when the website for the guests signing in kept crashing or losing the info that was fed into it. It made for a mad scramble but things were accomplished. I kept my head down and did what I could. It was not difficult and I had to think quickly.

Guests from all over the country were appearing, quite a few from the west coast. And my smaller usual fruit stand was represented by workers that I hardly ever see. They didn’t know me and I didn’t know them. My part of my fruit stand is relatively isolated and that causes some anxiety when I know I am scheduled to put in my time in midtown. From working alongside a handful of workers to dozens, sometimes hundreds like today. But it went well and here I am.

There was no chance of writing while working so it’s another scramble to get some typing done. Bill offered words of encouragement this morning when I left. I asked the same of Mike last night but he was unreachable. I helped him with his phone bill and there were no phone calls. Mike is at his crib and explained that he was worried about calling me knowing it was going to be hectic for me today.

Whatever. Things have been going well with Mike so a hiccup like that is inconsequential. Mike and his beloved were going to go on a cruise next month and it was scheduled only to have a parole officer that approved the cruise, was overruled by another higher ranking parole officer. So no cruise for Mike and his beloved.

An adjustment was made for a meet up in Las Vegas but the parole officer put the kibosh on that. Mike has a lot to learn and I cannot teach him or explain some things without hearing his resentment which is amplified when he figures out that I was right in whatever I was trying to school him on.

His beloved certainly loves Mike despite all the plans that have been made and abandoned. I suppose being 3000 miles away lessens the sting.