After having my awkward dinner with Simon last night, and his constant questioning about what was going on with Albert, I was not looking forward to our lunch.  The whole concept is to break him out of his depression by providing him with a muse.  I guess I was feeling a little dishonest about all of it with Albert.  While I do enjoy my time with him, and from the beginning he “knows” I am showing up to help stimulate him, are we all on the same page was my concern?

muse (noun): the goddess or the power regarded as inspiring a poet, artist, thinker, or the like.

I was upfront with Albert about why I was there at our first lunch.  He is stuck.  He has low level depression.  He is a genius, and not like smart-smart, I mean freaking brilliant.  He holds numerous patents, and people like Simon make money in investing in Albert’s ideas.  Albert has been stuck for over two years.

When I arrived today for our fifth lunch – yes with sandwiches from Ike’s! – he actually looked less of a mess than usual.  His house is immaculate, but he dresses like – or to be nice – the first time it was like he had lived in the same clothes for a long time.  He does not smell, so I think he just rotates clothing but has not bought anything new in years.  Since he went to Stanford for two years back in the 1990s – another drop out who made millions – I brought him a Stanford hoodie and a T-shirt so he had some new clothes.  When I presented them to him, after we had eaten in silence (he really has a thing about that), he was beaming.  He even put them on – in front of me – lol.  He told me that he always had wanted some Stanford gear.  I was thinking, “ah dude, you can buy some easily.” 

Well at least he is not shy… yes he is kinda big… thick… but for me; I enjoy his brilliant mind, and his thoughtful thinking.  I was super happy that he liked the clothing, and then we started talking about his time at school.  Suddenly he was saying that he wished he had finished his degree.  I told him it was never too late to go back, and he said that he would feel foolish.  We got in a discussion about age not mattering, and not to give a fuck what others think.  I realized that he is socially stuck right now. 

It was such a beautiful day, so I suggested that we just go for a walk, and he could show me his morning route.  I think I need to break his behavior patterns.  He is not stupid, so he realized what I was doing. New clothes, changes outlook, and walking after lunch instead of breakfast also is a change for him.  As we walked, we talked about that issue; also he gave me a house by house commentary.  Not about the people living there, about their gardens. He loves gardens. 

When we got back to his house, it was time for me to leave but I asked him if he would like to show me anything out in his playroom.  He was delighted, “I would love too but I thought you had to leave by 12:30 pm?”  I told him that I could do another 30 minutes since I did work 8 hours on Monday and that I had done a ton of school-work on Tuesday.  He was delighted.  I swear he was almost giddy. I might be working my magic – and then it struck me – Regardless of Simon and his issues, I really do like my time with Albert.  It is very non-sexual, and a little like teenagers just hanging out, and he reminds me of all of my lovely code-monkeys, and it is all about the brain.  It is my geek kink.  What he showed me is not for public disclosure, and I want to be fair to him.  I must admit, some of it just amazed me.  I do think things are starting to happen for him.

As I leaving forty-five minutes later, Albert even gave me a HUGE hug and a quick peck on the check.  He even walked me to my car.  As I was getting in, I asked him if he would like to dinner on Tuesday next week.  He asks, “What about lunch next Wednesday?”  I told him we could do both, and that actually blew his mind.  Then I really got him, I said, “I know a great burger joint, you probably have been there.”   He whispered, “Alpine Inn?”  I laughed – I was thinking Oasis but Alpine Inn is real close and it has burgers – and I said “Exactly!”  He looked thrilled!