.....Good-hearted Leila had secretly set-up a baby fund for Myra--a surprise to be announced at the child's birth. A friend of Leila's (who'd unsuccessfully run for Kentucky treasurer: her cocaine buddy) told Myra of the fund...and that Lea and Buck Nichols had contributed only $10. Myra let Royce know she was aware of the clandestine fund--and blasted the Nichols for their minute contribution. She just could not get over it. Though Royce thought she would have been happy with any contribution.
Also, what Royce sincerely felt deep down inside was not what any of them wanted to hear: Congressman Carey Dwayne Lucas was in the fight for his political career. And he would NEVER be governor of Kentucky.
(Chapter 7)
A little hope...goes up in smoke...Just how it goes...Goes without saying...There was a man...a lonely man...Who would command the hand he's playing...And solitaire's the only game in town...And every road that takes him takes him down..And by himself it's easy to pretend...
CARPENTERS (Solitaire: from Horizon)
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE FEMINIST MODEL: "VIEWING EATING DISORDERS AS THE CONSEQUENCES OF WOMEN'S LOWER STATUS AS OBJECTIFIED PAWNS IN A PATRIARCHAL, MALE-DOMINATED SOCIETY..."
(Donna Maurer & Jeffery Sobol)
....Initially, Carey Lucas' chances looked strong (since there were so many Democrats in the race, canceling each other out). At that time Leila Nichols had a look on her face Royce never forgot. It was as though Carey Lucas' gubernatorial bid was the most wonderful thing in the world. She exclaimed, "He's going to be governor of Kentucky and I am going to be friends with here...and, you are not!"
The incidents with Peter and Myra's behavior had turned Royce away from Myra. And those words of Leila's had sickened Royce. Even with Congressman Lucas' initial strong showing, Royce could not have cared less: Congressman Lucas was the kind of politician that gave politics a bad name, Royce thought. In his case it was pure and simple: political performance art.
Early on (well before the public announcement), Myra was getting a lot of mileage out of a Carey Lucas governorship. People were doing for her...waiting on her...treating her like the queen she really thought she was: the governor's daughter-wanna-be.
Leila Nichols became so caught up in Myra's dad's possible governorship that she couldn't see straight. Lea and Buck Nichols were also impressed. However, Lea and Buck did see Myra as she really was: a user. But when Myra arranged a meeting with Dan Quayle; and Lea and Buck Nichols had their picture taken together, the Nichols thought so much more of the congressman's daughter. Perhaps, they thought, she might be worth having around. In reality, Myra Lucas was viewed as but a servant to the Nichols (as Royce): Lisabeth invited Leila to her parties; the Nichols only asked Royce to bartend theirs.)
Bartending at one of the Nichols' parties, Buck handed Myra $10 for the job. Myra was astonished and insulted by the small sum from such rich folks. And she let everyone she came across know about the little amount paid. Myra Lucas was simply their "celebrity" bartender (all would whisper--and could tell tidbits about her, making them feel important). The Nichols used Myra to pick them up from the airport (when Leila was in Florida)--and tell others "the congressman's daughter was taking them home"....
(Chapter 7)
A WOMAN CAN NEVER BE TOO RICH OR TOO THIN (Wallis Warfield Simpson, Duchess of Windsor)
STAN WINTHROP, MYRA'S AND ROYCE'S OLD FRIEND, MADE HIS LAST appearance at Harrier training that ended in the 1980's. A flight instructor for the Marine Attack Squadron 112 in North Carolina, Stan received word of his deployment to the Persian Gulf in the summer of 1990.
Reassignment was the USS Nassau, where he lived for six months. Quarters for the five-week trop to the Mideast were small: four bunks and little storage space. Stan was used to small quarters--all the way back to his training in the desert with a tent-mate in a pup tent.
Much of the time was spent waiting..training. Much training was for the flights in Imminent Thunder Maneuver that in the end fooled the Iraquis--who had anticipated an amphibious assault. (The amphibious assault ship was landed on repeatedly in nighttime maneuvers.)
Stan Winthrop felt privileged...fortunate to be able to take part in the Persian Gulf War. This, after all, was for what he had trained. And it was a far cry from his days hotwalking horses. Stan was talented. Hitting a runway that did not remain still was not easy to do. Visually, there was no help for the young pilots. Darkness.
Although the air war had begun, Stan was still training. Stan realized how much his life was in jeopardy...how dangerous the night landings were when a fellow Marine hit the runway, cdrashing in front of him. Stan Winthrop felt anxious...nervous, and was questioning whether he wanted to back out after the accident (Chapter 16)
As we eye the blue horizon's bend...Earth and sky appear to meet and end...but it's merely an illusion...
Carpenters
(I Can Dream Can't I?: from Horizon)
