"That chick has as many curves as Casa Mila!" he said.

"Casa Mila?" I said.

"Yeah," he said... "you know, that apartment building in Barcelona. Casa Mila. The one with all the curvy art nouveau stuff. You know. Gaudi? The architect? You should know it. All you gay people are arty."

"Enough with the stereotyping" I said.

But he's right. We are an artier than normal bunch. It was an arty evening too. Sitting in the glockenbach viertel eating fraises freche enjoying the warmth (finally) of a spring (FINALLY!) evening.

"Jesus" I said. "Casa Mila."

"Yeah" he said.

"I haven't thought about that place in YEARS! The last time I saw that place was when I was married to a woman!"

"Jesus" he said. "There's a story."

"It's a sad story. I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, okay. We won't talk about it. Jeez. You gays. So sensitive."

"Hey!"

"Okay!"

"Anyway" I said, "What are we going to do next?"

"Sauna?"

"Oh Jeez, Tom. I don't want to go to the mixed sauna!"

"You gays! So exclusive!"

"Hey! I TOLD you about the stereotyping."

"Okay" says Tom, "We'll go to YOUR sauna... how bad could it be?"

I smiled.

It's a good thing Tom is built and not like the average mid thirties american straight man. Being in the Army helps him a little. He works out. He has to. He's afraid he won't pass his PT test if he doesn't and he wants to make Lieutenant Colonel.

On the way to the Sauna I asked him about his wife.

"She just left me."

"Crap!" I said. "What the hell?"

Tom's a catch, he's good looking, smart, well spoken, well educated, a good officer and has a future. He's also laid back and good natured, easy going. Nice all the way around. Why the hell would anyone leave him?

"She didn't like a lot of stuff about me. I don't want to talk about it."

"What?" I said. "So sensitive?!"

"Ease up!"

"Okay" I said.

When we got to the sauna the cute clerk kissed me. Tom was watching that. Then he said "Kabine oder schrank?" Before I coul