I have attended many of the parades beginning with the first one many years ago.
One of the last ones I actually was part of the parade was in 2011. I was working out at the Central YMCA in San Francisco. I met Karma when I started to attend some of her exercise classes.
We hit it off and I always said she was my young Asian Girl Friend. She said I was her Old Man Boy Friend!
She decided we should go to the Gay Parade so we met downtown at the beginning of the parade. A friend of hers had a Mustang convertible and asked if anyone would like to ride in the back? I, being then, 71, thought I should ride in the car but before I could even get close, Karma pushed me aside and sat on the back of the seat. Off we went, she waved at the crowd like Queen Elizabeth while I had to run or walk fast along side the convertible. I was not amused as the streets are dangerous, metal tracks for the buses to run on plus huge grates for air flow for the under ground bus and subway systems. I walked about two miles or more. Need I say more! By the way, Karma is not my younger Asian Girl Friend as she now is over 30 years old by a lot! Still love her though!
It is interesting how many different things I ended up doing over the years. In between contracts in the technology business, if I had enough time, I would take
classes for various endeavors.
Scuba Diving License: One time I got my scuba diving license after I had actually dove in the Caribbean, Fiji, Thailand, Mexico and off the coast of California.
Better late than never!
Realtor's License: One year I had time and ended up finishing two months of studying to get a Realtor's License. I took the classes and then paid for a one day crash course that garanteed I would pass the test. There were 200 people taking the test, two hours long. I sat down and took the test and said I was leaving. The instructor said I had to leave my things if I was going to the bathroom or a smoke break. I said I was finished and then heard a gasp. What, you are finished. Two weeks later I got my realtor's license!
I was actually in the process of selling a million dollar house on top of Twin Peaks but before the sale went through, I was asked to go work at a software company in Sunnyvale. The money was too good to give up and the contract was for almost two years with benefits!
Adminstrative License: After I retired my friend Viviane, in Beverly Hills, asked me to get an Adminstrative License to run a senior residence she bought in Woodland Hills. I would fly down to run the business when she went on business or vacation trips!
I had to take a test every two years to keep the license active. I usually flew down three or more times a year and when Viviane returned from her travels, we usually treated ourselves by going to the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch or visit the Getty Musuem.
Partner's for Peace: I also became active in a dance group, Partner's for Peace in the 1990s. We did exibitions all over the bay area. My specialty was West Coast Swing! Many exhibitons were fund raisers for breast cancer, AIDS and other diseases.
Central YMCA Board: I served on the Central YMCA Board and eventually became the President until the Y was closed down. I also became a teacher for seniors, doing yoga and exercise classes.
Painting in Oils: I started painting still lifes and landscapes around 2006. I have been in various exhibitions, the VA Hospital and art galleries around the City.
Photography: I love traveling around the world and have taken many shots over the years in places such as France, Russia, China, Fiji, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Dubai, Italy and many other locations.
I am sure I have done other exciting things over the years that I haven't written about. So much to do, so little time!
