this old anvil

What do you say to a constitutional amendment allowing one to lie about past sexual adventures?  The reason I ask is that I just read some news about the Roger Clemens case.  In case you don’t know, the former pitcher – one of the greatest of his era – was fingered by a former trainer, under indictment for trafficking in steroids, as a onetime user of the banned substance.

Clemens sued his accuser, Brian McNamee, for defamation of character.  All of a sudden we’re hearing about extramarital affairs Clemens supposedly had over the years, including one with a teenaged country singer when he was 28.  McNamee’s lawyer has stated that if Clemens wants to sue to protect his “reputation,” the defense will do what it can to tear said reputation down. 

Just coincidentally, when I was 28 – maybe 29 – I was dating a 17-year old down in San Antonio, where I used to live.  Amy: a slim little “slip of a girl,” with short brown hair and grey eyes and thin Irish lips.  I met her at a meeting of a coalition working to stop US military intervention in Central America (we’re talkin’ early ‘80s).  Her father brought her.  He was a psychiatrist and a Quaker, and had no problem with our relationship.  They lived in a “gated community,” the first I’d ever seen.  Security got to know me well, raising the gate for my ’72 Nova when I would bring Amy home at three or four in the morning.  She was smart as a whip, and a pacifist.  I was a Marxist, and we would have the most wonderful arguments….    

Anyway.  I bring this up because I have nothing to hide.  Seventeen is legal age in Texas, you know?  And I wasn’t married, or cheating on anyone – as, apparently, Clemens was.  My point is that I talk about it because I want to.  I would not like to be forced to talk about it now, many years later, on a witness stand, testifying about possible drug use.  What’s the connection?  Given the schizoid character of our society’s notions on sex, I think that unless a case directly involves sexual activity all mention of it should be banned.

The notion of “covert” sex is on my mind in regard to Janet.  It has occurred to me that I just might be the “other guy.”  I have never been to her house.  All of our dates, except one, have been on weeknights.  Maybe a guilty conscience is behind her outraged response to my “serial monogamist” remark.  I’m starting to think she’s married, or living with someone. 

Sunday I called her and said, hey, Brendan starts work at Six Flags this Saturday so he won’t be coming over this weekend.  Let’s take a little road trip down to San Antonio, I’ll show you the sights.  She said she would think about it.  I haven’t heard back from her.

I’d like to tell her that whatever else she has going on, I’m ok with it, if she is.  I just don’t know how to bring it up.  I would hate for her to feel guilty about seeing me.