The old men at the Korean spa don't brush their teeth, they assault them. Armed with a disposable handout and a big squirt from the communal tubes of Crest they maul their mouths until they’re foam-faced and rabid. Sometimes they brush in the shower or pace back and forth in walking meditation, but mostly they sit at one of the low grooming stalls and have at it with abandon.
This was my favorite part: “ I wasn’t quite sure how to play it. I didn’t want to be like “how dare you” because I like to think of myself as pervert tolerant, but I wasn’t feeling it as either audience or participant, so I just got up and left. But not in a way as to shame him, I just stood, stretched a bit, made like I had steamed enough and moseyed out.”
I like visual of you stretching, making like you had stretched enough... the key being "making like" which, to me, kind of sneaks in the otherness / separateness / identity / authenticity / intimacy / fear (whatever you want to call it) that your roving eyeball narrative captures.
Plus, another Tommy tattoo worthy addition to my collection: “I wasn’t quite sure how to play it”. Nice..
hey Marc, thanks for the shout out, and reading my action and being generous and all that other good shit. I just read your piece on meeting your wife on the train platform, and as a cat who grew up in late 70s NYC it hit me just right. Subscribed to your substack, just don't send Myles to Duke
I had that same silver haired self-yanker, stroking himself in front of me at Beverly Hills Hot springs a few years ago; standing thigh deep in the water less than five feet away. I also practiced pervert tolerance, gradually looking away before I exited. I was gonna say 'I turned the other cheek' but that wouldn't have gone over too well in that situation. Great writing Tommy. Fucking loved it -
“Full on suds-nuts, they shammy away for ten minutes or more, merengueing themselves, frothing and frappeeing until they are five to six feet of whip cream and a dash of pubic hair”! Oh my gosh, I’m glad I found this. So many gems here.
A terrifically told glimpse into a space I’ll likely not see. And fun to compare it to the Korean all women spas I love.
This was my favorite part: “ I wasn’t quite sure how to play it. I didn’t want to be like “how dare you” because I like to think of myself as pervert tolerant, but I wasn’t feeling it as either audience or participant, so I just got up and left. But not in a way as to shame him, I just stood, stretched a bit, made like I had steamed enough and moseyed out.”
I like visual of you stretching, making like you had stretched enough... the key being "making like" which, to me, kind of sneaks in the otherness / separateness / identity / authenticity / intimacy / fear (whatever you want to call it) that your roving eyeball narrative captures.
Plus, another Tommy tattoo worthy addition to my collection: “I wasn’t quite sure how to play it”. Nice..
I think the better tattoo is "pervert tolerant"
hey Marc, thanks for the shout out, and reading my action and being generous and all that other good shit. I just read your piece on meeting your wife on the train platform, and as a cat who grew up in late 70s NYC it hit me just right. Subscribed to your substack, just don't send Myles to Duke
Wow I enjoyed this. What a walk. Beginning to end a travelogue of images so broad they tip repeatedly into the endearing.
i like the idea tipping into endearing. much better than leaping for it. Thanks Patrice
Damn, this is so good. This is the laugh I needed!
I had that same silver haired self-yanker, stroking himself in front of me at Beverly Hills Hot springs a few years ago; standing thigh deep in the water less than five feet away. I also practiced pervert tolerance, gradually looking away before I exited. I was gonna say 'I turned the other cheek' but that wouldn't have gone over too well in that situation. Great writing Tommy. Fucking loved it -
“Full on suds-nuts, they shammy away for ten minutes or more, merengueing themselves, frothing and frappeeing until they are five to six feet of whip cream and a dash of pubic hair”! Oh my gosh, I’m glad I found this. So many gems here.
A terrifically told glimpse into a space I’ll likely not see. And fun to compare it to the Korean all women spas I love.
Don’t downplay a well planned “leap”, kid.
thank you. i got to stop trying to
play it so damn cool!
You’re pretty cool already