Book 1 - Lust
Footnotes
for
25. Central Park, Group of Bears
SPOILER ALERT
How many times do I have to tell you—read the book first! I am clearly trying to help you, yet here you are, continuing your long streak of disappointing not just me… but, honestly, your parents too.
However …..
If you actually purchased and read the book, thank you. Truly. Your support keeps the lights on and makes it possible for me to sit down at night and read bedtime stories to my grandchildren and their tender little hearts.
SPOILER ALERT
Excerpt from
Book 1 - Lust
Chapter 8 - Three Bears
Look at the three bears. Bo thinks. This could be your life, two beautiful women. You could be dating TWO girls at the same time. It’s every man’s dream. The smaller bear, in constant motion is Kara. The sitting bear, solid, slightly stoic, Janice and you standing in the middle. This is the universe sending you sign!
Bo contemplates these thoughts and finishes up his hot dog, takes a drink of water and then put’s his arms around each girl. What the hell, you will miss every shot you don’t take. Bo thinks and steels himself to address the relationship gaff.
Bo then compliments the girls, “I have to say, this has been an incredible weekend. I have had the attention of two intelligent and beautiful ladies with stimulating conversation all weekend. Time just flew. Then walking through the Met with you both was also amazing.
“Living here I always fail to remember there is so much culture here in New York City. I get so caught up in work sometimes, the rat race, so thank you Janice for the recommendation and dragging us all out of bed.”
“Other things were more stimulating” Kara interjects then looks at him and sucks the little bit of mustard of her thumb.
“You, shush,” Jancie gently scolds, sensing something pivotal on the horizon “Let him finish.”
“As I was saying,” Bo continues and Kara fake pouts, than giggles. “The whole weekend has been memorable. The three of us are like those Bears[25] over there at the entrance of the park. It all just works for me.”
The girls turn to look at the bears. Janice s leans her head on Bo’s shoulder while Kara take the last bite of her hotdog.
“The bear on the right is you Kara, constantly in motion with boundless energy. You Janice is the Bear on the left, sitting, watching with an intelligence ready to act any time.”
“And you’re the Bear in the middle?” Janice states.
Kara quickly adds, “only if it had balls touching the floor.” Causing Kara to giggle and Janice to snort, and Bo to blush just a little.
“Yes, I am the bear in the middle, standing, looking ahead.” Bo says ignoring Kara’s comment.
“Looking for what?” Janice asks Bo.
“I don’t know, ……
The Story
Real Word
The group reflects how our thoughts shift at different stages of life and relationships. As late teens or young adults, we have no real focus; we believe the lie that time is endless (Kara). With maturity, though, life experiences force clarity. We set goals, choose a direction, and feel the urge to build something meaningful (Bo). Others, after being hurt once deeply—or repeatedly—develop a natural armor (Janice). They want to feel that wild, reckless abandon of youth again, but fear repeating monumental bad decisions keeps its hand on the brake.
One is introspective, one is inquisitive, and one moves with the careless confidence only youth can claim.
This becomes a watershed moment for the trio as the Group of Bears, by sculptor Paul Manship located for realz at at the East Gate of Central Park at the 79th Street entrance is allegory of our new trio. It is Sunday night and the past weekend was wet, wild, spontaneous and full of all the craziness that will bring vivid memories to each individual of the trio, or dare I say ”throuple” for a lifetime.
But in the pregnant pause of post coitus one asks many questions. Triopoly so, when it now involves three people. The Monday morning grind and real life responsibilities looming only hours away, they are dancing around the question all initial relationships face.
Where does this go? Is this a real relationship? Could it be? Do I even want this to go anywhere? How would a relationship like this work? Then their is the whole challenges to cultural norms. Do those norms matter? What would my family say? In the immortal words of Crash Davis, they are “dealing with a lot of shit.”
However, in all new relationships and affairs of the hear, the biggest question has yet to be answered, Is this a genuine connection, am I being just being blind here—or is this just lust?
1. Which character do you truly associate? Janice, Bo, Kara, an amalgamation of all three or one that is introduced later? Why?
2. Have you lost your reckless abandon of your youth? If so why? If you still have it and you are over the age of 28, how do did you keep it?
3. We all have had very painful lessons in life, some self-inflicted and others often caused by situations beyond our control. We have all been hurt, what is your biggest hurt / failure, what did it teach you?
4. Being an honest broker here, and a follow up to three. Did you use that hurt for personal growth, or are you still holding on to it an excuse to hold you back from something better?