"She's GONE"

‘We all say we want our kids to be happy, only happy and healthy, but we don’t want that. We want them to be like we are, or better than we are.’--Hanya Yanagihara, A LITTLE LIFE

Jan 18, 2000, Tuesday

Gloria and Jack invited us over for dinner. She made a delicious seabass and sweet potato dinner. Ideal way to wipe out my day of Jury Duty in Malibu. I’m one of the twelve jurors. There are two alternates who don’t even get to deliberate. I’m starting to feel sorry for the drunk driver. He’s probably in his late twenties and he reminds me of a guy I worked with when I worked for Pacific Telephone in Operator Services named Brian Haux from Clayton, CA. He went on to work as a Frame Worker.

Jan 19, 2000, Wednesday

Alan and I had dinner out.

He snapped a photo of me getting ready to “Hang-Up”.

I have to say that I love my corduroy green shirt. I simply love corduroy shirts of all colors. I need to send that memo out.

Birda sent a postcard from Oklahoma City—of all places!

Michael,
It looks nothing like this in the winter.
It has been a short 2 days but the longest trip I’ve ever taken. There isn’t any time to stop along the way, so all the pictures are drive-bys. But I'm still having fun.

Always,

Birda

Jan 20, 2000, Thursday

I couldn’t get over the tree trunk of this tree at the Barrington and La Grange corner of Los Angeles. I had to photograph it. Relentless nature that will grow any way it can—the strength of it. Wow!

Jan 21, 2000, Friday

The other day Alan took that pic of me next to the promo advertisement of the movie, HANGING UP, starring Diane Keaton, Meg Ryan and Lisa Kudrow and Walter Matthau. Coincidentally, Alan and I had the opportunity to screen it at the Columbia Pictures (SONY) studio lot. I rated the film a B-. It was just okay.

As we left the studio lot I saw a bike and thought of Birda, so I took the photo of the lowly bike. We need to ride.

Barbara Reynolds also sent a sweet card that I received today:

Dear Mike—

I do hope that you are feeling very well after your bout with “the flu.” I have a few friends here who have been hit by it. I had a flu shot in Nov and have been making myself rest—and sleep—a lot. I look forward to being off on Jan 31st.

Thank you so much for the photos… nice in my “ME” album. Work has been okay, just a lot of “stuff” to deal with… like my manager Sherry Campos is “out” indefinitely—she has some kind of repetitive stress/strain. The good thing about it is that this relates to my experience six years ago—in 1994—when I was freaking out since my body would not work the way it had. I was not going to give a knee to outrage, and now… my manager is going through the same painful trauma. I had the opportunity to help her via massage & sharing my experience. I don’t think anyone can be grateful for the time spent in pain… but I start to think that anyone understands the agony of RSI unless you have experienced it. I am grateful to God as I have had all the help I’ve had… Lots of help. Like I told her-- her life would change entirely—mine has.

I am trying to locate your last letter. Well, actually I grabbed your November card this AM instead and now I am enroute to work in a Mercedes sports car and I'm at the bridge entry. I had my annual mammogram this a.m.—nice to sleep in a little.

Tonight is the full moon—Lunar Eclipse begins at 8:07 p.m. I tried to get logged into David’s computer… will try again later. I did manage to get a VISA card scheduled and ticket booked… May 3 depart Oakland to Baltimore—will then travel via train to my friend outside Philadelphia. I will return home May 13th. I am kind of excited now… future tripping… I look forward to seeing my friends there as they are sure to relocate for summer… some state south or that nearby coast.

Some work friends of mine in Berkeley are getting together this weekend. A new restaurant for me. I am getting more exercise now, doing the stairs more often. I purchased a video to help me use the “fit ball” I have.

I found your letter and looked at the wonderful photos which remind me of the lovely day I shared with you. Alan looks dark but I do like the photos. I like them all—BIG THANK YOU!!

Alice and I finally saw “Magnolia” last Saturday. I really enjoyed it. I’m sure we will do the Labyrinth walk again—ASAP.

Best end now. Cheers!! Love to you both,

Barbara

P.S. The lunar eclipse was a good show!

Jan 22, 2000, Saturday

Alan and I had brunch at the BEL AIR HOTEL. The swans are so calm to see there.

It was time to call mom again to read her the latest letter I received from her first cousin, Marie-Antoinette. It was a humdinger of a drama. Mom even said, "Sheesh!"

Dearest Cousin Michael:
Sorry I haven’t been in touch—our New Year started out rough. You remember my husband, Ruben, having that tumor removed in April? Well, it turned out the doctors damaged his vocal cords, and anyway, Ruben found some so-called specialists in Phoenix & made arrangements for surgery without me… to have the vocal cords repaired. The day of surgery I went with him to Phoenix; the doctor reassured me it was “same day surgery” & he would go home after recovering.

He recovered for a few minutes and then everything that could go wrong—went wrong! He stopped breathing—his heart stopped for 3 minutes & they were forced to do a tracheotomy. By the grace of God, he is still with us. It was a terrible nightmare, and I am still PO’d at all these doctors.

I’m thinking of retaining a couple of very good lawyers and slapping some of these physicians with reality! This is the second time they have played with Ruben’s health and our emotions. I’ve had just enough! What do you think? Maybe God meant still to get him, but I’m still so angry at how they’ve been so careless with their procedures! After Ruben was revived they came to me in the waiting room saying, “they had no idea what went wrong.” Seems to me they should weigh all possibilities and expect anything & be ready for whatever could go wrong!

Anyway, I’m sorry I had to write and unload all my personal problems, but you know me by now! I’ll let you know how things turn out! I’ve got a lifetime of work so I can take care of Ruben—the tracheotomy tube will have to be on for 3 weeks, and I’ve got to keep it clean—sterile really! I do this 3x a day. Seems like Ruben’s getting used to it, as if anyone could.

Well, I promised to get a grip and write a much happier note/letter next time, OK?
Love ya,
Marie Antoinette and Ruben

Jan 23, 2000, Sunday

I wrote a letter to my mom and included my December 28, 1999 Photo of the Day 'of her':

Gloria is 75 years old today, so we celebrated it with her while watching the GOLDEN GLOBES. And the winners were:

AMERICAN BEAUTY, Best Picture

TOY STORY 2, Best Musical/Comedy

DENZEL WASHINGTON, Best Actor for THE HURRICANE

HILARY SWANK, Best Actress for BOYS DON’T CRY

SAM MENDES, Best Director for AMERICAN BEAUTY

Jan 24, 2000, Monday

I feel the court case coming to a close. I can’t wait. I can’t believe you get paid $10 a day for this. It's highway robbery. I had free time so I wrote to Paloma: (1)

January 24, 2000
Thursday – Los Angeles

Hi Paloma,
This is a photo of Alan and I in front of the ROYAL THEATER in Los Angeles. Did you see the Almodovar movie called ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER? Almodovar won a Golden Globe for it last night and made a cute speech. I've been wanting to write you for a while now since I got your nice intro to 2000 Letter! On New Years Eve I went with Alan to Vegas and we stayed at The Venetian. We saw Barbra Streisand on New Years Eve. I prefer The Bellagio Hotel but my 2nd choice would be The Venetian. It's really nice.

I could have told you that the Austin Powers 2 movie would be bad. I didn't like it either. I never heard of a Johnny Depp movie, getting lost in space. I missed that one!

I just think Bruce Willis thinks he's too cool (in love with himself). I have liked a few of his movies – but I have to say The Sixth Sense & The Jackal are my favorites.

That’s funny that you had already heard about the Matthew McConaughey gossip. They didn’t mention it on TV here – it was only a small article in the New York Post.

Wow! Jonathan will be 13 in June. You’ll have a teenager!

I did see that Whoopi Goldberg movie where her daughter looking for her white dad. Jeez – I wonder if my daughter will be one-half Black? I never thought of that. Ha-ha She’s supposed to be about age 15 in Sept. 2000, so maybe I’ll meet her in another 3 years.

I sure do have special feelings for Lauren & Carrie (Alan’s daughters) though.

Did you know Lauren is spending her Spring Semester in Florence, Italy. She left on Jan. 14th. We are thinking of going to visit her around the end of March. I’d like to visit you & go to Paris too – but that may have to be another trip. We'll see how it goes.

My niece, Ashley, is in 10th Grade already. She was born first, so maybe that's why you think she's my favorite. She's a true teen now who is into Boy Bands like N'SYNC but she's so sweet. I like Holly, too. She's born 4-2-88. She's special in her own way but I really can't let myself favor one over the other..

Oh – yes – you mentioned Olivier Martinez. I didn’t know Mira Sorvino was dating him. I know who he is because I saw a movie he was in called Horseman on the Roof. It was a French movie that I enjoyed. I think Juliette Binoche was in it (I really like her). Anyway, Olivier is very handsome.

It looks like the place in New York won't be ready until the end of May or June. We were hoping on April--oh well--we have to be patient about these things.

Oh – La Maison Aux Esprits is called House of the Spirits here. I did see it – it was a good one. I have not seen the Jeremy Irons one, LOLITA, though. Since you said it was 'pretty good' I won't run out to rent it.

I met Fran Drescher once. That show is called The Nanny here. I saw her once at a Vanity Fair cocktail and art show in L.A. that we were invited to. Then I saw her appear near me another time and I spoke to her. It was at an AIDS fundraiser about two years ago. She talks just like that in real life too. She's very nice. She grew up in Queens, N.Y. – not far from where Alan grew up.

Well, I have to end now. I didn’t realize what time it was.
I am on jury duty in Malibu. No, it’s not an exciting celebrity case. It’s just a DUI (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol) case. So – I gotta go.

Love ya,
Michael Armijo

P.S. – Feel free to e-mail me: armijo59@hotmail.com