I barely have time to do much writing these days. Today it it is raining and I am in a lot of pain. It's hard to concentrate on eBay or anything else. I just found out a friend of mine for more than 30 years has been diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. The doctors said 6 months but realistically it's more like 3 months. He has asked me to help sell everything he has so he can more into his daughters home in Richmond. He has some furniture, a nice patio set, a queen bed, and some carnival glass (i will be posting on eBay). If anyone is interested, email me. He is disabled and on social security so any help is appreciated.
The house is being built and I posted the picture of the basement here. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. We are still looking at a December move in date.
My Life: Ron and I just took off. His sister lived in Oregon so we headed north. We would stop at roadside camping outlets and have picnics alongside the road. We played a lot of cribbage, sang to the radio and enjoyed each others company. When we made it to his sister's we stayed only a couple of days. I wasn't much of a fan of hers.
Instead of heading even more north, we decided we were going to turn back towards San Fransisco. I really didn't like Oregon and the rain. I knew I would hate it there in the winters too. To this day I still don't like cold weather.
We decided to settle down in Gurneville, California. Also known as the "Russian River". Located north of San Fransisco. The town is a gay resort with camp sites, hotels, clubs and bars. During the spring & summer time it is packed with gays and lesbians. Fall and winter the town almost turns into a ghost town.
When we first arrived it was summer and it seemed like a good idea at the time to stay. We immediately found a great house on top of a small mountain and moved in. I think it was about 65 steps from the street to the front door, straight up. There was a small box train that was electric to carry stuff up in. It was such a cute house and the rent wasn't that high. Next, I had to find a job.
I started applying for any kind of job I could find. The next nearest town was over 30 minutes away and I didn't want to drive the distance. I looked for over a month and couldn't get anything. Finally one of the Hotel's hired me as a bartender. It was the Monte something or other and was one of the finest in Gurneville. The bar was small and had windup toys, brain teasers and magic tricks for the patrons to play with. I found out later that I was hired because one of the owners wanted to get me in bed. Go figure. It worked too since I slept with anyone who was half way decent looking. The money wasn't very good and fall was coming. On my days off, I would hang out at the more popular clubs and bars. Ron and I drank and partied all summer long. I was suddenly starting to go broke and had to do something.
I got a call from the most popular bar on Main street "The Rainbow Cattle Company" and they had changed bosses. The new boss let some of the guys go and hired me as the morning/day bartender. My shift was 6AM to 3PM. It was amazing that people even went to the bars that early but they did. It also attracted the homeless gay men who would be waiting for the doors to open.
I knew that I drank too much as it were but now the drinking started earlier. Bartenders were allowed to drink with the patrons and it was encouraged. By the time I got off work each day I was hammered.
Coming up: The flood, winter and loss.
Way too much to write about in one chapter so I'll have to break it up. I am about 27 or 28 at this time in my life. Still so much to come.
Love and Peace,
Clayton
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