Cheryl

Talking to Ramiro. He was sitting at one of the tables by the snack bar in the shade. It was a hot day. There were others not that far away, many probably still left from Tai Che exercises held earlier. Ramiro is about seventy, one or two, and a blabbermouth. A lot of people avoid him because once he starts talking, which is after he say hi, he never shuts up. I just talk right over him when I want to say something. You have to just force your way in. He is a hell of a nice guy, world traveler, worked for one of the airlines, has reduced ticket fares as a result, and regularly takes trips and cruises with his wife. He loves to talk about foreign places and food. He is very interesting and knows a lot. It's just that you can't get a word in edgewise.

He was sitting with a travel magazine spread out on the table. I sat down because I didn't want to go home yet, and my walk was done. He told me he wanted to show me something and began flipping through the magazine. I immediately became aware of two woman sitting near by and who I was facing. There was an older woman with a baby, she maybe late twenties with her back to me, and a younger woman probably twenty or so, absolutely gorgeous. She was facing me directly, and Ramiro had his back to them. Ramiro found the page and pointed out to me a cruise from Florida across the Atlantic and through the Mediterranean. "Five-hundred and eighty dollars," he said. "You can't beat that" and showed me the route which was printed in map form. He said, "Of course you have to expect that the room will not be all that nice". I said, "All the arrows are pointing east. How do you get home? You got to fly? How much does that cost"? "Oh yea", he says, "of course, you have to pay to get home. But the cruise is cheap". "So why don't you go", he says. "Me. I can't afford to buy a cup of coffee. Why don't you pay my way". "Oh," he says, "I would if I could afford it. I only have enough money for me. Maybe next year", he says. "Right," I answered, "are you kidding? This is as good as it gets. The most I can hope for is it doesn't get worse and that I can stay vertical". "Vertical"? "Yes - being able to stand up".

Meanwhile it was a gorgeous day. It was hot and there was a warmth that seemed to emanate from the people near by. I was flirting with the young woman. She had sunglasses on so that I could not see her eyes. I would look at her and she it seemed looked at me. I was admiring her beauty. I loved to look at her. Would guess she would perceive that and enjoy it. I have done this many times before with woman. She knows she is safe and it is just secret flirting unbeknownst to the friend she is with and unbeknownst to the man I am with. She is being admired and admires back. She might make little moves indicative of some message or she might not. I would notice. There will be no more to it. It just feels good; an energy transference, a mutual admiration club. As I was saying later to Luis, "About all I got anymore. All hope has crashed and burned. Course I wouldn't be getting the writing done I am, if I was otherwise engaged. Business always business".

It was a feel good time, then one of those huge tractor lawn mowers starts mowing the grass quite close. The grass, it seemed to me, did not need mowing but you can't stop progress. The damn thing was so noisy, I said to Ramiro, "Can't sit down for a minute and enjoy the ambiance without somebody ruining it with noise. Glad I don't live in a rich neighborhood where they got lawn mowers, leaf blowers and chain-saws running all the time". When engrossed in his magazine he was much less verbose, actually pleasant to be with. Can't help but like him. He just loves those cruise ships. On another occasion he was showing me some cruise ship or other in one of his magazines, pointing out where he stayed, where he hung out when on board. He will talk about it forever. Everybody began to leave. I said, I can't take this noise, I'm getting out of here. He says, "I am leaving too". I nodded ado to the woman I had been flirting with, although she gave no acknowledgment and I left. Everybody left accept the two woman. Sometimes have to wonder who the parks are for, the visitors or the employees.

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