January 1st, 1971

At 9:00 A.M., Friday, the first day of 1971– which was to become my twentieth year of existence on the planet earth, I woke up.

I was lying on the left side of the bed, naked– sunlight was streaming (hysterically) through the window of room 721, Holiday Inn Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma– clothes, books, party hats and horns and confetti were strewn from wall to wall– Evelyn– an enchanting, intellectual, beautiful Jewess who intrigues me, is horny, and a principal person in my life was sitting on the edge of the bed– looking at me. Just looking at me.

This, in addition to the sunlight streaming through the window, was the first thing I noticed of the new year.

New Year’s Eve we had gone to Fuzzy’s with Naomi, Eleanor, Harold, etc. and I had gotten drunk, yelled a lot, and eventually passed out when we got home. Just in time.

Sleeping all day, fixing black-eyed peas, poke sallet, and cornbread at Naomi’s– going to the movies (Love Story - Eric Seagal)– My year has begun.

God I’m scared.

God I’m happy.

God I am. 

Do you hear me?