Hello again......I will be off to the big apple from Yale...for 5 days then home..for a month So you won't have me to kick around anymore...call ken if you want to arm wrestle me over weak beer.... I will be trying to collect from him for these dime store novellas and so...for those who travel alot I would like to leave this "encounter" that is if you have the patience......its from my restoration journal......... "some women can have all the indiference of Carmen, ....the joy and cruelty of Cleopatra,...the tyrannicial marble-heart of Catherine de Medici..and the cold glitter of all the pashionless despots of mens warm souls since sex first orginated" James Thurber"letters" circa 1925 It was time to go . A young co-ed red head from Yale was arching her back laughing over her shoulder stealing glances at me . Well, at least I thought she was. She was entertaining two well dressed young men whose backs were slightly to me so I was able to enjoy her frivolity and mirth as well as the intimacy of her glance. Time plays tricks on middle aged men. Her attentions may be innocent enough... as she laughs a full head of long red hair in ringlets falls gracefully from her shoulders following the curve of her spine to the middle of her back ; a playfull arched eye peeks.. my way... through its folds, before she shakes hair free to greet her admirers with total attention. Its time to go...I say to myself. Intimacy from the young stirs the blood and lights the fires of passion that are difficult to control .With a blush of a cheek and a little wink... memories long fettered within the hidden heart tumble from the shelf and animate as tempests of young love an libido that smolder incestous in little fires with hot sparks .Her gaze transends the moments as if it were yesterday . The mind for all its infinite wisdom lays captive to the femine charm and mystique that is in all purposes a kind of a magic.... combine that with the recklessness of youth and unabashed beauty . ... a wise and mature man can loose all sence of reality in volitality of his desire . "Desire is the key; disire-lessness the way.".said the great sage." "..Ahh but what did he know? said the little guy with horns on my shoulder ..I was soon to find out. I nod to the waiter .... its time ..,,,,,,,. She is laughing again... She has a naughty laugh; one that could amuse you and make you stay up all night long in childs play with the lights off. A mischievous smile that aknowledges your age and dosen't care....thats rare ...intimacy and fantasy transend age .....and compliments diverse personality and body types.. .. what is it the white in my beard,?... my scarred cranium and one eye that suggest an evening of danger and adventure?. Or just meybey she wants all the attention of.. all... the men in this room,and she is working her stealth to get it...meybe Meybey its youth and Im so out of it Im not connecting..... .I take the last of my glass..and peer at my bill.... .She laughs again; her eyes touching mine ...briefly..softly... I have been here before..... about 3 marriages ago . The worse was in Greece when I was restoring our Embassy there with Greek marble technicians. Handsome young Samsons cutting stone by day... minotaurs at night.... dancing into the wee hours among broken plates in the centuries old Plaka and old port of Pireaus. Taking women prisoners who were only there on holiday ;...like pirates who sally the coasts for hostages and coins of gold...... .. . that is until they introduced me to" Sami and Moya." "Sami" was Arabian from Palistine; at 18 with raven hair, full figure and dark olive skin she could order the head of John the Baptist... and you would be serving it up. Moya was just the opposite.19, Irish, with ivory white skin with a full head of red hair, in thick celtic corkscrews that fell almost to her waist; she was blessed with amazing blue eyes that sparkled and sang of the coasts of the Hebrides and Alba when she set her gaze upon you . Both were attending the American school;both wanted to live in the fashionable Kolinaki district where the embassy was. I had 3 bedrooms and would I be interested in letting two. The rest is history; we went everywhere together. Black tie embassy parties; small weekends to the islands, I even talked the Marines into letting us all go to their ski chalet above Delphi by heliocopter.....Because I was embassy they did all the shopping at the PX for cost. I was smitten, drunk with infatuation and the passion of love from the itimate company of these vivacious young ruffians.. We had so much fun .... ,I wasn't daddy , I was a brother...and lover to two sisters.....my heart is full when I think of it ...and so days passed into months ..untill finally the day came when the job was finishing up and the school year finishing. . ironically in the same week the girls had both recieved calls from irate parents odering them home.....Party was over...,no one wanted to go home but there was little anyone could do. ......I tried to stay in touch by phone calling Ireland and Jordan. Back in the States I was heartbroken and sick for six months with symptoms of dull listlessness and no appetite. Finally I entered therapy This party's over.......I pay up and take my coat....I don't want to go there again Ahh but there is that laugh again..nudged the little guy with his fork...;Sami and Moya laughed like that; a quick glance up from her is asking.... if I was there was a chance I would stay..... I am weak.... but not that weak .Besides I am a family man, but I am a man, human and careless who loves life just the same. What did Thurber say "men are fools,weak wine blooded,deeply -devoted darn fools". ......I take the air....content in the manifistation of my own wisdom and grace. Best Michael/mdd al/rts2000 Best Michael. .----------------------------------------------------------