May 27, 1989
Saturday, 9:40 pm

Up at seven to help escort women into a clinic on West 30th so I grabbed a cup of coffee and took the subway. Astor Place was closed for repairs so I walked to 14th but I might just as well have walked to 30th.

Ira from ACT UP was there, a couple of other escorts, the administrator of the clinic and two Operation Rescue men handing out pamphlets. There wasn't much for me to do except stand around so I stood around and talked to a woman about 65-70 who had a sign saying the Catholic Church sells babies for profit. We chatted and it wasn't until I got home -- I left a little past nine -- that I realized she may not have been all there herself. She lived at the Martha Washington down the block and told me how, when she was just out of college and at her parent's house she was alone one night and nearly raped by a boy she vaguely knew. She told him that she'd tell her brother-in-law, the mayor, if he did anything so he left her alone.

The administrator of the clinic said they really needed people during the week because the Operation rescue people show up at seven and stay until nine or ten and yell at the women going in.

My cousin Floyd's wife Randy saw me on the news at a pro-abortion rally and told Mom who said something about if you don't play the game....

Tim called to say he was going to galleries and read off a list and I told him which ones were worth it. He also said he was in debt because he's been paying both his and John's airfare when they go their his parents. He said it was by default but I think it bothers him that John doesn't pay his own way, especially since they only see each other twice a week now.

Worked on a "Fountain" painting and a little drawing from Saratoga of a tree off to one side. Should have the painting done the end of this week and can then start applying the text. After that it's another vertical four-panel piece using the falls, another single-panel grange and another cross.

Wind blowing, cool outside, falling sleep.