I feel like I’ve been bombarded with nothing but unpleasant news over the last few weeks. The ongoing war in Ukraine. The leaked alleged decision on Roe v. Wade. All the people I know with cancer. Rising inflation with escalating gas prices. The Buffalo massacre. A major stock market correction. The monkey virus. The ongoing domestic political unrest. The senseless Uvalde massacre of 19 children and 2 adults.
I went to the dermatologist only to be told a suspicious mole needed to be removed and biopsied. I left the doctor’s office with five stiches along with the promise of a new scar. Days later I was relieved to know no cancer was found.
JP had his first of five rounds of chemo. He’s seems to be tolerating the chemo so far but it’s early in his treatment plan. I’ve known JP for many years as a fixture on the local art scene but only recently became friends. It seems too early in a friendship to be so involved in his life. But what does one do? I can’t walk away. I know what that feels like. I had friends distanced from me when I was in treatment. It’s just Double A, JP’s sister and me providing support. I need to suck it up so I take this challenge head on.
My good friend and neighbor’s mother died on Sunday. It was an expected death. Her mother was four months shy of 101. She had been in a memory care facility for the last few years. My friend flew to Oklahoma to say goodbye to her mother last week. I went for a long walk with my friend on Sunday afternoon. She talked while I listened. It was what she needed.
I had to talk another friend off the ledge on Tuesday. His sister embezzled $1.2m from two of his family’s privately-held companies. It has torn the family apart. His sister was arraigned yesterday. My friend is at a loss as to why she did it. If she needed money all she had to do was ask for it. My friend’s father was beyond furious and instead of handling the issue privately, he has involved high-profile lawyers and the courts. It’s a fucking mess. I talked to my friend for hours over two days. He was devastated and needed a supportive friend.
I needed something pleasant to look forward to. Enter Bruce to the rescue. He stopped by while I was working in my garden yesterday afternoon. Bruce invited me to spend a week at his boyfriend’s house in the Hamptons this summer. I would prefer the invitation come directly from the boyfriend, and not, second hand from Bruce. It could be a great vacation. It could also be like being a lessor character in the Devil Wears Prada given Bruce’s well-heeled boyfriend operates in that world of privileged A-gays. Details are vague. I tentatively agreed to go. I would like to get to know the boyfriend better. I would also like to know more about the others who will be staying in the house. As Bruce was leaving my house, he said we could split the cost of the jet. I hope he was joking about the jet.
The Corporate Slave 