CHAPTER 13, Part Four: My final years at the Fund. I confront Don P. with a strategy from "The Art of War;" how I came to schill for The Marin Civic Light Opera via mime; I get a promotion - lateral.

Taking the shuttle to Lucas Green one day for a brain-numbing class in Effective Communication, I saw we had a new driver, Patrick.  (Glenn had left the rose on the dashboard.)  I was still reading from “The Violet Fairy Book” so asked him if he’d mind if I read aloud as I had been before; he nodded, so I launched into, “Nunda, Eater of People,” which made me think of Don P. and the job in general.

One morning, I got to work early, hoping to catch Don before the workday started.  I wanted to try the "two-knives" samurai tactic (from "The Art of War") on him.  One was the element of surprise; the other confidence and preparedness when executing the “attack,” moving forward and not backing down.  He was sitting at his desk, staring off into space.  He looked up as I approached.   I told him I wanted to talk to him in private.  Startled, he sputtered, “Go ahead.”

                 “No.  In private.  Let’s go up to the cafeteria.  There’s hardly anyone there this early.”  He agreed.   We sat at a table as employees got coffee and left.

                “What’s this about?”  he asked. 

                “Breaks and lunch,” I said, opening the company handbook and reading the information regarding the matter.   When I finished, before he got a chance to talk, I added, “You can no longer get on my case about my right to take breaks and lunch.  Or when.”   I closed the manual, got up and said, “Thanks for allowing me the time to talk to you.”  And walked away, leaving his with his mouth hanging open.  He never bothered me again.

                Don knew I did mime performances in shows as well as for benefits.  He approached me one day and asked if I’d do something for the upcoming 1980 Winter Marin Civic Light Opera season where he’d be singing in the North Bay Opera Ensemble production of “The Student Prince”.    He said there’d be a small stipend.  They were having a board meeting in a couple of weeks. Since major subscribers would be there, he asked me to create something for publicity    He gave me the program, so I made a soundtrack of musical highlights, recorded it on tape, and worked up short, satirical mime pieces briefly describing it, which I rehearsed at home.  Don told me that my appearance was to be a surprise for the organization, so would announce me as a special guest.   He gave me a ride there after work on the Friday of the meeting.  I changed and made up in the bathroom on the site.  He kept knocking on the door, asking if I was ready, which unnerved me.

Me, in Costume

 I was ready.  He could announce me.

                 

I walked in, carrying my boom-box, wearing a simple costume of black leotards and turtleneck, white face and a black cap.  It was a lecture room.  There were 25-50 people there.  I set up my boom-box on the lectern, pressed play and did my bit in the narrow space between the seats and the wall.  People laughed and cheered.  I bowed, picked up my box and left.  By the time I finished changing and removing my make up, they had finished their meeting.  Don introduced me to the director, Marianne Ross, who thanked me, and gave me a check for twenty-five bucks.  She later wrote me a letter of recommendation in which she said, “Your interpretation of highlights from the Student Prince was excellent.  Of course, you know the effects ‘Deep in my Heart’ had on me.  I almost fell off my chair laughing; it was hilarious.” 

Marianne Ross's letter.

 

 Don lived in Novato and could drive me only to the nearest bus stop on 101.  Great.  It was about ten, totally dark.   I was starving.  Not even a Denny’s nearby.  I sat and waited.  A car pulled up, stopped, and a nebbishy guy in a white shirt, tie, and black-rimmed glasses, rolled down the passenger side window and hollered, “Do you need a ride?”

“To the City?”

“Not that far.  San Rafael?”

“Okay.”  I got in.  First thing he said was,

“Have you been saved?”  .  This was the last thing I wanted to hear; I was beat.  I’d take my chances on the road.

“From what?”

“Have you accepted Jesus as your personal savior?”  It was then I noticed all the Christian tracts and Bibles on the seat between us.  We were nearing San Rafael.  I spotted a bus stop.

“Let me off here,” I said.

“But- but- You know there are dangerous people out here.”

“None more than you.  Stop,” I said, loud and firm.”Let me out!”     He did.  

My  "ride"

“Remember, Jesus loves you!” he shouted getting the final words in as he pulled away.

Not five minutes later, a SF bound bus stopped.

                I don’t know if it was because of what I did for Don, but one day Fred called me into his office.  Don was sitting there.  Fred told me I was to start a new job with the cumbersome title of Business Systems Analyst Assistant Trainee. They explained that it was a lateral promotion.  No salary increase.  I had stuck it out for a year- and-a-half for this.

Nineteen-eighty was ending.  Early in the year the US boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympics (Sometime later, I somehow managed to score an official 1980 Olympics sweatshirt from a free-box, which I still have!) to protest the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; also a grain embargo against Soviets backed by the European Commission.  1980 also saw the eruption of Mount. St. Helens which killed more than fifty, some reluctant campers  and long-time year-round residents who wouldn't leave though warned of the danger. (I happened to be vacationing with my youngest son, Douglas in La Jolla at my brother Russ's at the time.  We were stunned by the dramatic news accounts we saw on TV).  The year ended with the election of Ronald Reagan for US president, and, finally, the tragic assassination of The Beatles' John Lennon in New York. More on this and Reagan later.

In upcoming Chapter 13, Part Five, among other matters, I will talk of a tragedy that befell a beautiful, popular Project Manager who visited our department often to discuss her projects with Fred.  She was friendly and engaging and treated everyone equally.  Quick to laugh, she'd often stop to chat.  We all loved her.  The event shocked everyone.