i went to the irish bakery - today - for coffee and sausage rolls - the place was packed for the day before easter -

it's traditional filled with just arrive irish - american accents - are not really comon here -

they have a great photo of a huge young boxer on the wall - and he was there -
today - he's famous apparently - and

he was even in a picture with mohammed ali

as i walked into the cafe - he lit up

and i sort of did too - i didn't know it ws him - at first -

then i realized - it might be - but i felt tension from the odl irish group he was entertaining -

as i am usually just happy on the surface - enjoying the walk - but not expecting to

connect with folks - except for a hello - or a 'how are things' - never a personal

someone is interested in me - like this -

so - i just = respectful of their space - i wasnt sure what to do - so i just was humble and on my way -.

but then i sat down and i saw the photos - and i ate my rolls - and had coffee - and then the boxer came and sat across

from me -

i caught him looking at me in line - but then he came direcltly across from me -

but didn't face his table but faced me with his back against the wall reading a paper

i got nervous - like what do i do - what does he want -

i wasn't sure - i must seem so spineless - but someone interested in me?

but then i thought - maybe he just wants to say hi -

i did - and he was very enthusiastic to talk to me - and i sort of freaked out -
and left -

but - he was very nice - and he wished me a Happy Easter in a really sweet gentlemanly way -

his voice was very lumbering but he seemed good guy

i am not so good - and talking like that -

and i feel the whole place could see this big gay guy - looking lighting up

we both lit up

i hope there's a next time - when we can talk - i just get scared -

didn't feel at liberty to be myself

ps
my great grandfather's brother in law - my great great uncle - was a famous wrestler in europe
and becamse a prize fighter here in the US - but died young -

so i thought of that - after

and last night - i watched the muhammed ali - george foreman fight of 1974 -

with my roomie Patrick -

anyways - ttyl

M

Mark,

You felt uncomfortable so you got yourself out of the situation. There's nothing wrong with that, my friend. Okay, now you see things differently, but that's how we learn. Next time you see the guy you can strike up a convo on your own initiative if you like. Either way, you have learned something here.

Much love,
Larry

um - wow - this was the fella -

i just found out.

Kevin Martin McBride (born May 5, 1973 in Clones, County Monaghan) is an Irish boxer, who competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
McBride debuted in December, 1992, with a draw against Gary Charlton. In 1997, he defeated Paul Douglas to win the All-Ireland Heavyweight Title, and in 2002 he defeated Craig Tomlinson to add the IBC Americas Heavyweight Title. McBride currently resides in the heavily Irish neighborhood of Dorchester in Boston and trains in near-by Brockton, Massachusetts.
McBride's greatest success to date came with a victory over former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson via a 6th-round TKO on June 11, 2005 in the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.

Mark,

I just think it's cool that you talked to him. That alone has to be a victory.

true.