January 12, 1977

Chris Joyce turns 24. He is a Millersville State College student and brother of Dan Joyce, an original 328 Club legacy member. He also is bipolar and was not unaccustomed to severe mood swings. So long as he took his lithium, by and large, he would be normal. Uh, perhaps that is not the right word. Let’s put it this way – with or without medication – he fit in real well with the 340 Club when he moved in on or about his 24th birthday.

As his brother Dan was the Red Fox; so Chris was the Black Fox (different milkmen? I dunno). In the blog he is referred to every Wednesday as the poet laureate of the 340 Club. Phil & I, and I suppose others, lovingly refer to him as Clacktu; a nickname derived from the character – Klaatu – in the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Chris remembers moving into the 340, likely at my invite as I have been Chris friend since round 1967 or so, with Bob Ulmer helping him and none of the usual gang of idiots lying around the sofas and floor offering any assistance. Before bringing belongings in they had to clean Chris’ room which had been unoccupied in the 17 months of the 340’s existence. Unoccupied did not mean empty but rather it meant an invitation to put junk in. Included amidst the junk was an HO train set up that would reappear in the basement of a future home as Beerville. One of the most valuable possessions brought into the 340 was a TV set that Chris’ sister had given him but it never worked at 340 (or anywhere else thereafter).

Chris was a great roomie, an additional drinking partner, and remains a good friend. He had his quirks, as we all did, I suppose most obvious among them was his proclivity for taking Airbaths. That is getting naked as if to go shower; standing on his head, by his side of house window, and taking in the free moving air. I suppose it was cleansing for the soul. More to come