Encounters
As I was leaving the post office I ran into L. When I had spent the week here in June 1968 which cemented our futures together (See p. 95 of “Cheesesteak,” available for $25, from Spruce Hill Press, POB 9492, Berkeley 94709), we had out poignant parting dinner before I returned to Chicago at the Chinese restaurant L owned on Shattuck Avenue. When I had my office in Berkeley, I ate chicken chow fun there, usually once a week.
Following her divorce, L sold the restaurant. I’d seen her a few time since but not in several years. We kissed cheeks, discussed arthritis (hers), cardio problems (mine), dry rot (mutual), and six grandchildren (also hers). Then we parted, having, I suspect, making each of us feel better that here we both still were.
I had barely resumed my seat at the café when a woman entered whom I also thought I recognized. For a brief time, in the late nineties or early oughts, I saw her as another customer in the back room or, even more briefly, working the register of what-I-call-in-my-writings (See, for instance, “Fully Armed,” available from www.theboblevin.com) “Café Frenzy.” She was Mexican, maybe a Berkeley City College student, and strikingly attractive, with thick, below-shoulder-length black hair. She never acknowledged my stares. I never spoke to her beyond, when she was at the register, “Short double espresso” and “Thank you.”
She was putting a top on her to-go cup when I said, “Excuse me, but…”
She was surprised – and pleased – to be remembered. “How are you?” she said, even though she could not have remembered me. “I have a 10-year-old son.”
I recalled her hair. “And then you cut it.”
“Oh,” she said, “I cut it so short.”
“Bob,” I said, extending my hand.
“R,” she said.
Her grip was firm.

Later I thought about her mention of her son. I thought who she may have been at 20, being stared at by men in back rooms, not knowing where her future would lead. This son, I thought, signified a pride and self-assurance and attainment she could not have been sure would ever be hers.
I was glad I had spoken

Sold two “Cheesesteak”‘s. The first, to a doctor at the health club, almost occurred some weeks ago, but he didn’t have cash, and it took him until now to get me a check. The second was to a stranger whose eye was caught by my “Buy Bob’s Books” sign in the café. (“Are you Bob?” he said.) That also was delayed because I couldn’t get the damn gizmo which enables my iPhone to take credit cards to work, but I went home and practiced, and the next time he came in, I was ready. (He turned out to work for the university guiding professors into the wonders of computer-assisted research. He’s hoping to publish a sci-fi novel, perhaps with illustrations, so I shared my several months worth of business wisdom with him.

In other news “The Schiz” is at the printer’s. It’s having trouble with a couple illustrations — technical trouble thankfully, not content trouble — and Milo is on top of it. The estimated shipment date of October 17 may be delayed but not by much.

[“Cheesesteak: The West Philadelphia Years: A Rememboir”: $20 from Spruce Hill Press, POB 9492, Berkeley 94709. $15, if you meet the author at a café. He’s the one with the “Buy Bob’ Books” sign.}