yeah.â
âGreat, because I really want you to see this place and meet my new friends.â
âJesusâ¦â
âHey, guess what? Remember when I told you that years ago, this place was where President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe used to come together?â
âYeahâ¦?â
âWell, local legend has it they used to stay in room thirty-four, and I went in there today.â
âYeahâ¦?â
âNaked.â
âYeahâ¦?â
âSo think about it, Robin. This very afternoon, I was naked in the same exact room that a president and Marilyn Monroe were naked in.â
âYeahâ¦?â
âSo the way I see it, in some strange, mystical way, this afternoon I had sex with Marilyn Monroe andâ¦â
âHere, speak to the kids.â
âWhat kids?â
GOING HOME
Since I had a 114-mile trip ahead of me, I planned on leaving Palm Springs no later than eleven in the morning. This would allow me more than enough time to stop off at the Nike outlet store on the way, maybe grab a little lunch, and still make Lindsayâs softball game, which began at three. This was a very workable, very well-intentioned plan, butâ¦
Iâve seen a lot of prison movies where inmates, when their terms are up, are so comfortable with the routine that they prefer to remain in jail for fear they wonât be able to adjust to life on the outside. And while this is by and large a feeling they have after fifty years in Alcatraz or Shawshank, I felt exactly the same way after two days at a clothing-optional resort. And since I had no idea when Iâd have the opportunity to be naked outside again, I savored my last few garmentless hours, and before I knew it, it was noon. No big deal. Nike wonât go broke without my business. So I took another naked swim, finished Philip Rothâs book, noticed that a very attractive woman was checking in, started reading
To Kill a Mockingbird
(because I hadnât read it since eighth grade), and the next thing I knew, it was almost one oâclock. Oh well, Iâve always felt lunch was an overrated meal. And I still had two solid hours to travel the 114 miles, so all Iâd have to do is maintain a 65-mph pace, and Iâd get to the field for the start of Lindsayâs game. I packed, got dressed, said good-bye to Tom and Mary Clare, noticed that the very attractive woman whoâd just checked in was now emerging from her room completely naked, put down my luggage, read a few more pages of
To Kill a Mockingbird,
marveled at how much Iâd forgotten about this fine piece of writing, and, when I finally pulled out of the parking lot at two oâclock, wondered aloud how it would actually feel to drive a car 114 mph.
Would I ever go back? I think so. With my wife? God knows. But those questions would have to wait.
When I pulled up to the softball field, it was the fourth inning. And as I approached the bleachers, I purposely limped the way one would if heâd actually had minor back surgery.
My NYC Marathon
Today, I am sorry to say, I will not be running in the New York City Marathon because Iâve been out promoting my novel about a man who is running in the New York City Marathon and I didnât have time to train. I didnât run in last yearâs marathon either because I was busy writing my novel about a man who is running in the New York City Marathon and I didnât have time to train. I did, however, run in the 2003 New York City Marathon. I trained hard for that one. I joined a running group, did stretching exercises, watched my diet, and finished in 33,517th place. A half hour slower than the time of my previous marathon, for which I didnât train at all.
I harbor not even the slightest embarrassment that while I was running, a person could have gotten a good nightâs sleep. Or have consecutively boiled 127 three-minute eggs. Or that while I was still hauling my fifty-three-year-old