The Travel Diary of Mr. Peter Davis Clark

Monday, January 13, 1986, 6pm, Vail, Colorado:

Arrived into Denver Airport at noon. Uneventful flight from Toronto. Patsy and I had no problems with suitcases/skis/poles/boots from baggage claim. Easy renting car. Got to choose between Chrysler LeBaron and Chevrolet Camaro. The Camaro won!

No static on AM Radio KLZ. Sang along with Anne Murray's hit "Could I Have This Dance" from Urban Cowboy movie. Loved John Travolta in that one. Interstate 70 all clear.

Stopped in Boulder for late lunch and bookstore stroll. Patsy bought the new Jane Fonda workout book. Flipped through Time Magazine's old October issue about Rock Hudson and AIDS. Didn't buy it. Read enough about that Gay Cancer in the New York Times last summer when all schools banned that 13-year-old kid Ryan White. Americans are so over-the-top! It is always: sound the alarm!! Instead bought the James Bond novel "For Special Services".

Arrived at Manor Vail Lodge Hotel around 4:30pm. Front desk noticed it was our fifth time here. Nice that they noticed us as VIP guests! Room is luxurious. The bathroom has a new gold shag carpet, gold wallpaper and a sunken bathtub. This is the life! Heading to supper now at Sweet Basil Restaurant.

Monday, January 13, 1986, 11pm, Vail Colorado:

The Beef Bourguignon was excellent but now costs $6.95!

Tuesday, January 14, 1986, 5pm, Vail Colorado:

Terrific day. Headed out early. Patsy insisted we wear new matching neon green and purple ski suits. Snow was fresh and powdery. Wonderful for alpine skiing. Met another Canadian couple. Roger and Rachel. Probably both twenty-five years old.

Patsy and I had a good laugh when we took off ski masks and goggles and showed our wrinkled old faces. They thought we were young because they said we had "youthful ski style"!!! Told them it was due to two years of private lessons when I started skiing at age forty. Patsy went on and on about how she was a child ski star at the age of ten. Again!! Told them we are celebrating my sixtieth birthday. Still laughing at this "youthful" surprise.

Heading to supper at Sweet Basil again. Will have fish and chips for $4.99.

Wednesday, January 15, 1986, 5pm, Vail, Colorado:

Excellent day on the slopes. Arthritis in my left-hand hurts. How long can I keep skiing? At least I did not have one of my secret "seizure spells". The doctor said it might be epilepsy. I said not in my lifetime. I would lose my job!

Cracked open James Bond but the "One Minute Manager" book I tucked in my bag is calling. Still have five years before retirement. Should I try for that new manager job? Have 35 years with the City and only moved up the ladder to mid-level. Always have to ask any girl from the clerical pool to type my letters. As a Manager I would get my own secretary! Have to ponder this. Is it worth it? Will company pension be the same amount?

Might order room service. Menu says grilled cheese and coleslaw for $3.99!

Thursday, January 16, 1986, 2pm, Denver, Colorado:

In Denver Airport waiting for flight to Calgary. Patsy stayed in Vail. Last night at 2AM cousin Fredrick called me. My twin brother Phillip is dead. He killed himself. He jumped from his tenth-floor apt window and hit the wrought iron fence below. One of the spikes pierced his heart perfectly. It is the only thing Phillip ever did right. But why Phillip? WHY?!

Thursday, January 23, 1986, 8am, Calgary, Alberta:

In Calgary Airport waiting to return to Vail. Fredrick and I cleaned out Phillip's apt (very neat and tidy) but we got so worried about getting this AIDS cancer that we wore gloves once we found his note. Phillip was a homosexual!!!! I never suspected. The note said:

THEY ARE GOING TO EXPOSE ME AT WORK AND FIRE ME FROM MY ACCOUNTANT JOB. MY FRIEND BRIAN HAS AIDS AND NO DOCTOR WILL HELP HIM. MAYBE I HAVE IT TOO. DON'T WANT TO KNOW. SORRY PETER. FAREWELL.

But it all makes sense now. The drinking, never marrying, no girlfriends. Why didn't he ever tell me?

Probably for the best. This way the family will never know the truth. Fredrick and I will keep this secret. We burned Phillip's note. I took the ashes from the note and put them in the suit jacket pocket they cremated him in. We double-burned his secret.

Held a quick funeral yesterday. Wrote eulogy and spoke about us as twin boys and the fun we had on the river rowboats. It all makes sense now. Poor Phillip. He had a miserable life. Now he is free. Farewell Phillip.  Now I am a twin-less twin. But what if this AIDS thing is genetic for twins? Can I get it too?

Bought that Time Magazine with Rock Hudson on the cover to read on the plane. Don't feel like eating.

Saturday, January 25, 1986, 5pm, Vail, Colorado:

Great day on the slopes. Might ski the Double Diamond tomorrow. Tried not to think of Phillip. Did not tell truth to Patsy. I told her Phillip committed suicide in a drunken stupor. That's good enough. If she found out the truth, it would appall her and she might leave me. Guilty by association.

Heading to the bar for a drink to silently toast Phillip. Maybe I'll have a Vodka Martini like James Bond. "Shaken, not stirred" as Bond would say.