Jimmy Lloyd Phillips:
CLASS OF 1962
Orange High SchoolClass of 1962
Orange, CA
Santa Ana Valley High SchoolClass of 1962
Santa ana, CA
Smedley Junior High SchoolClass of 1959
Santa ana, CA
Jimmy Lloyd's Story
Note: what started as a brief story of the events of my life after High School has evolved into more of a Blog ...
LIFE...(at least some of it) Born in Santa Ana, CA... Moved from Santa Ana to Orange in 1959. The class of 62 yearbook has me listed as James, their always trying to correct "nick names" , but,my LEGAL name is Jimmy. the only time I have ever used James was when I driving limos. That was so the clients at the end of the evening could say ... "Home James."
After graduation from Orange High School... at 17... I joined the Navy in Aug. 1962, but never got stationed out of San Diego County. Went to Boot Camp in San Diego then Hospital Corp training at the Naval Hospital at Balboa Park. I was the stationd at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. Served as Hospital Corpsman (Medic) until my discharge 1965. We had Port and Starboard liberty, which meant I was able to go home to Anaheim every other weekend.
After the Navy... I was living in Santa Ana, I worked at Disneyland (Pirates-Jungle Cruise) and attended several colleges including, Cal State Fullerton and ASU (joined a "Frat" ...I dated sorority girls, skinny dipped in the fountain at Grady Gammage Auditorium on a Sunday afternoon, with my pledge brothers. Had a great time ... didn't learn much. Quit college to work for my best friend Bill Spencer... whom I later lost touch with... (Finally found him in Texas ... Gee, he got old)
During my work career, I worked in computer medical management, restaurant management ... sold cars (Fords) ... in Buena Park and Orange (Corwin Ford) ... was a real estate agent for Century 21 in Anaheim Hills ... and had my own limousine service for several years called AFFLAIR The WIDE-BODY Limousine Service. The sides flared to seat 4 across, for 8 pass seating. It was also great for individuals that didn't want to feel like they were sitting alone in a bowling alley. It was the only non-privately owned wide-body in Orange County. I also got to drive for the Oscars, Emmys, Grammy and other award shows.
In 1994, I started a new career as a certified massage therapist. After my partner of 14 years passed away at our home in Yorba Linda, December 31, 1994, of a congenital heart problem, I moved to Palm Springs, CA. Yes, I am GAY.
When I was growing up I didn't even know what Gay was, but, I always knew I liked boys, I just didn't know how much. I always dated girls, usually the very cute ones, hey, I was cute then too. Things like that were not discussed when I was growing up. My first real experience was not until I was 18, with a 23 year old Marine, we just "buddies" then. That lasted about a year, until he went to Viet Nam. I was still dating girls. When I finally came out to myself, at age 36, I joined a gay social group in West Hollywood. 3 months later I met my first partner, at a wine tasting party. He had just moved from Ohio to OC and was living with his parents in Fullerton. He was originally from Philadelphia, which was later my first trip east of Phoenix. He followed me home to Orange that Friday night and spent the weekend. On Monday he left for work and said he would be home about 6pm and he would fix dinner. We spent the next 14 years together. (To the family we were "roommates" ) We never dated. We were both 36 when we met, in December 1980.
May 13,1997 met my second partner. Gave him a private massage for his 36th birthday. He was spending the summer here, he was from Manchester,New Hampshire. He asked me to spend the night, we spent the next five years together, we never dated.
I worked for several of the major Resort-Spas. I started in Palm Springs at the Spa Resort & Mineral Springs which became the Spa Resort & Casino a year later ... next the Westin at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage ... and ending at La Quinta Resort & Spa ... when they opened their Spa in 1999 ... (very popular with the celebrities). Now know as the Hilton Waldorf Astoria La Quinta Resort and Spa. Fun Facts: The city of La Quinta is named after the hotel which opened in 1926. The city incorporated in 1982. You golfers are more familiar with the city as home of PGA West. (As an employee I could play free.) ... What other famous CA city is named after a hotel? Hint: It also has a famous zip code.
Feb. 2002 update ... We just moved to PVCC in Palm Desert, on a golf course... I do not golf ... but, Jason ( our Lhasa Apso ) loves the big lawn in the backyard.
Gail the last girl I dated in HS contacted me. Turns out we are "Family" she wanted me to go with her to her reunion, class of 63, which was also the 100th Anniversary of OHS. It was held on campus and open to all current and former students and teachers. Didn't see any of the kids I went to school with ... just a bunch of old people.
On May 14, 2002, my second partner of 5 yrs passed away, the day after his 41st birthday, as a result of an accident. He was visiting friends in Laguna over the weekend for his birthday. I had to work. He apparently fell and hit his head, while walking his friends dog. He came back complaining of nausea and went to bed ... he never woke up ... I got the call the next day when his friend came home from work and found him still in bed ... he died in his sleep ... life sucks...
Feb 2005 ... Well a new chapter in my life is about to start... I moved to Phoenix.
Aug. 2005 ...WOW, too much like living in LA. After 3 months of driving back and forth to check on the remodeling of my new place in CA. I am HAPPY to say that I am moving back to Palm Springs... and my 10 year client base.
To supplement my income during my years working for the Resort-Spas ... I also started my private practice ... aka ... Wizard Of Ahhhhhhs ... It became a full-time business when I finally left the "factory work" behind in 2004.
Latest update, just posted a new "Now" pic taken in Sept. 2010 ... Just turned 66 years old... Semi-retired (Still doing private massage work) and relaxing in front of my 60" HDTV... or enjoying the 10,000' mountain views pool side... Only a mile walk to the Village, aka the business district of Palm Springs. Yes, I am also enjoying the freedom to let my hair grow ... My clients think it fits with my "free spirit".
Jan. 2011. Remodeling finished! Just moved into my new Dream Home. I think I will stay awhile. Tired of moving. Still in Palm Springs. I can't think of anywhere I would rather live at this point in my life....
March 2011 for those of you that read down this far... Just posted a new Then" photo to replace the high school year book photo with a college "fraternity" pic... I got contacts for HS grad present, but, eventually went back "glasses", which of course are now optical "plastic". The now photo was also replaced with one taken December of 2010.
Update ... July 2012, I finally found Bill Spencer, living in TX... He's gotten older ... LOL! Yikes my BF is younger than his son.
2012 - Updated Now pic with a 2012 photo. Yes, the last few years I have enjoyed the freedom to let my hair grow. My clients say it fits my "free spirit".
9-24-2012 - My best friend died today...my Mother. Alzheimer's had been taking her away more each year, for the last several years, it finally won. I know a part of me went with her.
Aug. 2013 ... ...Expand for more
Posted a new photo. No, I did not get a perm. After 4 years of cutting my own hair, one of my clients, a hairdresser, cut my hair. He layered it. The length was pulling the curl out of the hair. By layering the hair the curl returned ... yes, it is all natural. When I was young it was kept too short to really show. During the 80's and 90's I was convinced to get a one length cut, it was really curly. I hated it but my partner loved it. Now I have decided to "own it". The longer hair doesn't show the gray as much as when it was short. Now I just "scrunch it" an go.
Being self-employed has it's benefits ... I gave myself a raise. I raised my rates and have been busier than ever!
2013 ... I finally added some pics of me and Gerry, he was the most important person in my life for 14 years. We would both have been 69 this year ... and finally able to get married legally. He just died 19 years too soon. I still
think about him everyday.
2014 ... I must really be getting old ... I now have two cats ... and I am allergic. My neighbor moved and asked me to take care of two of his cats, (he had 2 dogs and 5 cats - he also works at the animal shelter) because they were outdoor cats and his new place only allowed indoor pets. I had already been feeding one (Mojo) when she came over to visit ... she didn't get along with the other four cats. She would eat and leave so no big deal. When he gave me the cats he also gave me a "kitty" door so they could come and go as they wanted. Now it seems they prefer to sleep inside. Chloe, use to run away from me when I walked near her outside. Now that I am the one feeding her, she decided she likes me. Chloe now sleeps on my bed at night and next to me while I watch TV. I am even posting cute pics on FaceBook of them sleeping or playing ...Yikes I have turned into old women.
October 2014 ... Well, I have had the cats for a year now ... very spoiled. Since I turned 70 my world has fallen apart. In 2010 I was told by my doctor that I had the same cancer that killed Farrah Fawcett. (Maybe it has to do with having Great Hair!) Great bedside manor! .After surgery and an MRI there was no longer any trace of the cancer. Skip to 2014, symptoms return. Visit doctor again ... you have cancer! This time with a much more serious. After a PET scan to determine the extent. I had a power port installed in my chest, I was referred to two oncology physicians, one for Chemo Therapy the other for Radiation Therapy. I am now starting my 6 week of Radiation Therapy, done daily M-F. I get the weekends off. I also started the first week attached to an IV pump connected to my power port. 24 hours a day. Installed on a Monday and removed on Friday. I spent my 4th week in isolation in the hospital because the treatments had depleted my immune system, it was go to the hospital or die...oops. After being fed antibiotics IV for a week my immune system recovered and I was allowed to go home and mingle with the public. As i start my 5th week which was originally scheduled to be my last the Radiation doctor informed me I was about half way through. I am also scheduled for more Chemo before I am finished. The good news is that the cancer is very localized, which means it has not spread to the lymph system. They have a fantastic Comprehensive Center at the Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs just 2 miles from home. My radiation physician is also the head of the Radiology Dept. Oh and yes, my hair is coming out, thinning at least, good thing I have lots to start with. Well, that's what I have been doing since I turned 70 this last August ... time will tell if I make it to 71. So if you don't see anymore updates, you can guess the results...oops ... I look forward to my next update.
January 2015 ... I just posted a pic of my newest look. After finishing my Cancer treatment and recovery, I finally am able to return to work. After my second Chemo treatment, which I had not received as of my previous posting... I ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. Unable to get out of bed, I could barely able to walk. Had to use a walker and received physical therapy at the hospital and at home to help me gain my strength back I also ended up with a beard, trimmed it down to just the chin area, couldn't stand the rest. I lost 25 lbs and most of my hair as a result of the final Chemo. What is left lost all the color and turned gray. Now instead of looking younger than my age ... I look older .... YIKES! I guess it is really more of shock to me than to others, since I am still trying to deal my new reflection.in the mirror. My barber / stylist ( I guess that is what you would call someone that charges $55.00 for a haircut) tells me there is already new growth. So maybe in another year I will have my curls back. My friends say I look very distinguished (does that mean old?) Update... instead of letting my hair grow long again I have been keeping it short but, decided to grow a beard instead ,,, at least a chin beard. Always evolving ....
June 2015 ... Met with Dr to do biopsy to determine if they got all the cancer. He just said ... See you again in 6 months. Why no biopsy? He said, No need, I was continuing to improve and he saw no sign of cancer...COOL!
Lost Mojo (one of my cats) she went out and never returned. Just me and Chloe now.
Aug. 2015 ... Mia came to stay with me ... she is Chloe's litter sister. Her family moved and since I had lost Mojo, my friend that gave me the cats when he moved, thought I needed a replacement so he suggested that I take Mia.
August. 2016 ... Just updated my Now picture. I am now dating a straight boy ... don't get the wrong idea, he is only 4 years younger than me. We met in August 2015. Another "Philly" boy, like my first partner. I guess I just have a thing for those East Coast boys. .I have never "dated" a guy before. With both of my partners we just connected and started living together ... none of the "Can I have your number".. Can we meet again for coffee"... "Can I take you to dinner" we just started living together. Well, with this one, we don't live together. Just good friends. He took me to Las Vegas, I had not been there since 2002. He took me to the Living Desert, a local wilderness park / zoo. I have lived in Palm Springs for over 20 years and had never been. That's like living in OC and never going to Knott's. He says I need to get out more. I like to go to movies, ( usually about once a week ) now I drag him along, but he pays and buys dinner after.
I developed Neuropathy in my feet after the cancer and had difficulty walking and my shoes no longer fit. He took me to a place that specializes in all sizes of shoes. I found out that I need a 4e width, extra extra wide, I tried on a pair and left the store able to walk comfortably again. Can't usually find my size in the shoe stores, none of the " cool" shoes fit. Found out that I could buy the same shoe on Amazon cheaper than in the store and they carried other brands in my size. I just received the 6th pair of "cool" shoes that I have bought from Amazon this year. After all those years in the closet ... at least, I learned to dress with some "style".
HUGS,
Jimmy Lloyd, CMT
WIZARD Of AHHHHHHS
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