You Gotta Have Friends

I rarely mention my job on Post Apocalyptic Bohemian. I am the store director for a Portland institution- a deluxe gourmet food-to-go emporium, now in its 31st year. I do the hiring, training, & maintaining of a staff of fifteen 20-30 year olds, & I buy the candy & wine. I love my work, but on occasion, it becomes “the job that ate my life”.

Even while working 25 hours during the 2 weekend days, I was still able to thoroughly enjoy a visit from my friend MGC.


MGC & I have been friends for 36+ years. We attended college together, & with no planning (& not because of each other), we have lived in 3 different cities together at the same time. In all that time, including living together at one point, & despite having once been in love with the same man at the same time, MGC & I have never had a fight, disagreement or intrigue. We will go a while, even a couple of years, without communicating, but we always come back to each other. He is handsome, lovely of disposition, a bit reticent around other people, keen, spiritual, & possesses extraordinarily beautiful penmanship & housekeeping skills. He has a great sense of adventure while also being a man of restraint & moderation. In many ways… he is my opposite. Is that why we stay friends? Does a modest man need a hedonist for some balance?

MGC had met a member of the Portland band- Sneakin’ Out at a social function in Seattle & wanted to see them perform. This outrageously talented musical outfit often plays at a venue in walking distance of Post Apocalyptic Bohemia. The Husband & I have seen them perform, including an amazing gig opening for k.d. lang, playing Rhapsody In Blue with Thomas Lauderdale (of Pink Martini) on piano, & the band playing the orchestra’s part on mandolin, bass & wood blocks, typewriter, children’s xylophone & assorted other objects. Sneakin’ Out combines astounding musicianship paired with a really nutty sense of humor. Among the cover versions at Friday night’s show were the Green Hornet Theme & Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb. They seem to specialize in Beatle covers, including doing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in its entirety. I have always really dig their lush sound, but now I am determined to become a groupie, & not just because they are so sexy.

Junior looking for his Daddy to come home. Photo by MGC

This morning, MGC sent me this photo from his Iphone, a device that MGC seems to think is of more use & more fun than a boyfriend. He loved showing it off, & I have to admit to having a bit of a crush on it myself. The Iphone can identify music playing in public place, give real time MAX train arrivals, scan bar codes for consumer info, cruise the internet, link to email accounts, take photos & videos, & fart. The only “ap” it seems to be missing is kissing & oral sex.