i had to write this column again and I will write a few a day.But before my sainted brother died,he asked me if anything did happen to him,to make friends.How can a single woman of 60 make friends? I am living with Brad for 12 years and we share a house.We do different things because Brad doesnt like some of the things that I do,so when the new doctor told me to make friends.Does anyone know how? Where do you start? First of all,I still read 2 books a week and still read the newspaper and various columns.A great deal of the men here do not read except for the sports section and they do not go to book stores.I have been going to book stores for years.I go to Barnes and Noble here once a week not to buy books but to look around and sometimes see what other people are reading.Another thing..I used to sing opera.I used to sing.The reason why I dont sing anymore is because i cant afford it..but I still listen to my rock and roll and my favorite group was and always will be The Beatles.Another singer that I really liked was Marvin Gaye.Mr.Gaye was shot by his father in the early 80s.He had some voice.I saw Barry White in concert and Barry had a voice,,but Mr.White passed.Music is a good passion for me and I have always spoken to the up and coming musicians in seattle.I have to tell everyone about my date.He told me that he was 55.Guess what? He aint no 55 and he aint no millionaire.He was about 25 and I did not know what to say.After the church thing,I met him at Starbucks and we took the bus down town.We went to Macdonalds and I paid for my own food and we were talking rather nicely.He kept looking at his watch so I knew that something was up.He got up and went to the mens room and I knew that this was a mistake.As I was putting on my vest because it was cold today,he leaned over and said to me this"Can you give me 20.00?" I asked him what it was for,he told me that he needed it for the ferry back home and he was broke because he wasnt paid yet and he told me that he liked me and wanted to keep me as a friend.I told him that I didnt have 20.00,then he said"How about 50.00?
When I told him that it was the middle to the
month and I am watching my bank,he asked me ag ain for the 20.00! This was getting to be down right hairy and i was beginning to wonder if he was with it.SO I gave him 25.00 just to get him out of my hair,as he was following me to the store and i did not want him to know where I live...noone knows.I do this for my own protection and the cats.I dont want anything to happen to the cats or the house because we are renting the house and I dont want it damaged.I came home at 6.05 and now all of the cats are out.But today I tried to make friends like my new doctor told me to do.Now I am a bit short of 25.00,i really couldnt afford it.But what would you have done? He also told me that he knew Bruce Springsteen and now I am beginning to wonder if I should call this new friendship over.And all of my friends who are 60 are having it hard also.One of my friends has got 5 children and she is just so ashamed to go out.How can us grieving meet new people? Does anyone know? My bank is one of the banks in the news and it may go bankrupt and I cant afford to give my money away right now because we are waiting to see what will happen.I cant afford 25.00.But if you were a lady what would have gone? Guys..would you have given him the 25.00 to get home? What should I have done? Making friends at 60 is shameful right now and if you dont have a lot of money like Oprah..you meet all of these crazies here and I dont know what to do.Thanks again to all.Vader.And dont give any money out unless it is a relative and if you have to!|"