Most people,
even before bankruptcy, start to cut corners, hoard whatever money they
can get and after the procedures stop spending money on anything but bills and necessities but most people aren't me.

On
November 19, 1992, the judge declared that she had found for me in my
bankruptcy and all the debts against me were discharged. I breathed a
big sigh of relief and walked out to the car which was mine and couldn't
be touched by any creditors. It seems the next night Bob, Jim and I
went to the Caldwell Playhouse to see the play "A Few Good Men" having
dinner at the Chinese restaurant around the corner. Okay maybe I got the
ticket before I went bankrupt but then I have the following notes in my
diary: "Gary, Mike and I Thanksgiving Day buffet at 17th Street
Marriot" "Bob and I went to see "Tango Passion" in Coconut Grove and had
dinner at Hooter's" "Bryon and I dinner at the Park Cafe and then went
to see "Falsettos" "David and I dinner at Dan Dowd's"  In other words I
was going to shows, movies and restaurants as if nothing had happened!

(An
aside--one of the fun things about having a diary--going through the
1990s I found this: "March 21, 1990--went to see "Les
Miserables"--touring company-beautiful songs--enjoyed it--glad I saw it
and would recommend it" here it is 23 years later and I have seen it 4
times on stage. recently saw the movie three times and on February 26 I
will once again see it on stage in Miami--and I am not bankrupt!)

I
was working--in fact had several jobs--was writing columns, doing my
monthly newsletter, working on a couple of books about my parents,
Michael and Bernie--I got a call from Eleanor and she told me that she
and Hector got married on December 23, 1992 (I still wonder what
happened to her)--I sold an article to South Florida magazine for $50--I
had a call from my brother!!! He was in the hospital with internal
bleeding--I don't remember a thing about that conversation and if I
didn't have a diary I would never remember the call happened--in June
1993 I started working at the Broward Bookstore--one of those X-rated
places with booths in the back to watch porn and large enough for 2
people so use your own imagination and in the front were all sorts of
magazines and paraphernalia for sex games--I was told by the boss I
could 'steal' up to $50 a shift plus I got a percentage of sales plus a
salary--it was one of the best, easiest jobs I ever had--themajority of
customers were married men or men cheating on their lovers--a man would
walk in, see me and gasp as if I was going to get on the phone and call
their partner and squeal on them like I cared.

Things
were moving along--I was working--going to the theatre and
movies--eating out--had a bunch of good friends--had relieved myself of
major debt and then 1994 came!