It was back in mid-January of this year when my computer/AOL program had a "mini-crash". I spent a couple of days trying to figure the problem out and fix it, but without much luck. Finally, I decided to give Steven a call to see if he could look at my computer and fix the problem. Steven said sure thing and told me to stop by his place whenever I had a chance. So, I went over to Steven's place one late afternoon that week. When I got there we went about trying to figure out the problem with the computer. After some time, we decided we couldn't fix that particular problem. Steven suggested I do some upgrading of my operating system and that he would help me after I returned from my trip to New York.

While we worked on the computer, he and I began talking about our respective future plans. I mentioned to him that I was thinking about a move back to New York because of the poor economic environment in the Bay Area. Steven in turn talked about his spring move to LA to be closer to Cindy and how he was looking forward to it. He told me that he was trying to save enough money to buy a ring and propose to Cindy. Steven said he was hoping to have enough money soon so he could pop the question. I said it's about time. I told him I was looking forward to the big day and that I'd visit them in LA and we'd go out and get some great Korean food to celebrate. I realized then it was dinnertime and we hadn't eaten. I offered to buy Steven dinner for helping me with the computer and we went to the Marina to grab supposedly the best burger in SF at Barney's.

During dinner, we talked more about what we would be doing down the road. I was going to be involved with real estate and Steven was going to be working with computers and consulting. I told Steven I would hire him as soon as I got the real estate business up and running, and that he would have to build me a Web site.
We talked about a bunch of different things: food, the cities we've lived in, my dating dry spell and the likelihood he and Cindy would be seating me at the singles table at their wedding, how AOL sucked, the economy...

Of course, we were stuffing our faces at the time too. When we finished dinner Steven asked me if I wanted to hang out and watch American Idol. I told him I never watched the show, but Steven was apparently a big fan. He said I should check the show out because it was pretty funny. We went back to his place and watched the season premiere. It was a pretty funny show. After the program was over, I was getting ready to leave and catch the bus home when Steven offered to give me a lift home. I declined. I said the weather was lousy outside and that he should be resting and taking care of himself since he was under the weather. I told him it would be a 35-minute round-trip drive and he would have to search for parking again when he returned home. However, he insisted on driving and I relented and accepted the ride. On the way home, he asked me when I'd be back because his birthday was coming up and he wanted me to celebrate with him. I said I hoped to be back before his birthday. After dropping me off at home in the Sunset, I thanked Steven and told him I'd see him in a few weeks and we could work on upgrading my computer. That was the last time I saw Steven.

-Lenny Mark

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