Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 36

If You Didn't Write Me Anymore...

The mind of man is beneficent and noble only when it obeys truth, as soon as it sells out, it becomes intensely diabolical.--THE CIRCULAR LETTER from THE GLASS BEAD GAMEby Hermann Hesse
It is always so special to find a letter from Paloma from the South of France and recognize her familiar letterhead to her Residence Club.   She was excited about the 501 jeans sale I had told her about: …The  501’s sale…That’s GREAT, Fantastic!  I remember when you sent that box of 501’s and I was worried that someone might steal them on the way.  Can you imagine finding a box with a bunch of 501’s inside?When I go to Paris I promise to look to see if I can’t find something I think you would like.   The only place I could find something around here is in Montpellier.  I can hardly go right now, in fact I went yesterday with my brother but the only things I saw that I liked where things that you can find in the States (like a gorgeous jean shirt with leather and bones on it).  When I say bones I mean  the kind you find on Indian belts.   By the way, my friend, COCO, makes those belts and sells them now.  I have always really liked cowboy and Indian kind of clothes.  What about you?  
I am in the city called SETE (near MONTPELLIER).  I really hope we’ll keep writing to each other for a long, long time.
I looked in the new CLUB MED catalog.  The price for two weeks in the BAHAMAS costs around $2800 for two weeks in January/February.  They have two places there:  ELEUTHERA and PARADISE ISLAND.  I am kind of looking for a place for our holidays.  We may buy a car, so we may not go.  Alexandre and I can’t agree.  He wants to go skiing and I want to go to an exotic place.  Oh well, we will see what happens.
Your mom must be really sad that you moved to L.A.  She can’t see you that much.  I was just thinking if you didn’t write me anymore I would be really sad.  I am so used to that now.  It’s something very important now.  I love being able to talk to you.I miss you.Love you,PalomaHa…Paloma’s latest postcard made me so HUNGRY for a baguette:
Alan’s mom is on the bandwagon again with regard to sending me postcards during her travels.  She was recently in Nashville, Tennessee and Charleston, South Carolina.  Those are two states I have never visited.  As Alan says, "It's great to visit new, strange places.  It works another part of your brain."

2PM, Sunday 1/31Hi Michael,I had to change planes here (Nashville) to get to Charleston. I thought you would like this postcard from Nashville to add to your collection.  Love to Alan and Girls.Affectionately,GLORIA 9PM, Sunday 1/31Hi,…sending this quiz for you so you can learn the history of Charleston, SC.  My view from the hotel is of the Ashley River and it is magnificent.Have a good vacation.Affectionately, GLORIA
It must be nice to see strange countries.--Bram Stoker in the classic book, DRACULA

Never A Time

There’s a tradition in ASIA of treating your partner with the respect you would accord a guest.  This is true even if you have been with your loved one for a long time.  The other person always deserves your full respect.--Thich Nhat Hanh, HOW TO LOVE
And so I received another kind CONGRATULATIONS card from my former co-worker from PacBell Directory in San Francisco, Reed Campbell.   I actually enjoy his out-of-the-blue updates.  I had forgotten about his baking expertise when he would surprise the office with his magnificent banana nut bread.  Yum!  I could use a slice of it right now.   Reed wrote:
Dear Michael,I am so very glad you are now a stockbroker.  I do hope this is one of your goals that you have been striving for.  I was saddened with your news of Mitch.  I haven’t kept in touch with the old office recently, so I didn’t know.  I wish you much success in your new venture and one of these days I might get down that way and give you a call.  Do the same for me when you come north to see family, etc.  I think of you often and will be glad to make banana nut bread for you anytime. May the years to come hold even more success and happiness for you!Reed

Paloma sent three wonderful photos in a recent letter and I was examining them.  The first one was of her husband, Alex, her son, Jonathan, her step mom (who shares the same May 26thBirthdate as me), and Paloma.  The scene at a Paris restaurant makes me want to BE THERE.  A part of me says I should live in Europe; maybe it is an ancestral relative that is within my soul that brings this feeling.  
The second photo was of Paloma’s father (Grandfather with Grandson) and Paloma’s son at an airport arriving from or returning from an AIR FRANCE flight.   The third photo was another dinner scene with Jonathan, Paloma, her father and her husband, Alex.   They’re beautiful photographs.
There’s a song that I hear lately by GENESIS called NEVER A TIME.   It kind of reminds me of Paloma and me (especially after seeing the recent photos).  There are certain lyrics in the tune about how ‘we’ve lost our way’…’you don’t get a chance to rearrange’…’you live your life locked in a dream’.    Alas…we all turn down one road and it can change everything.   Life can really be so unpredictable.

A couple of days later I received a letter from Barbara Reynolds that depicted an oil on canvas image from 1987 of CONCRETE KINGDOM by Anthony Holdsworth.  It depicts a black gentleman sitting on a fire hydrant, feeling the rays of the sun and it makes me imagine the many things he could be thinking.  I love the image.   Barbara wrote:
22 JAN 1993Dear Mike,Happy YEAR OF THE ROOSTER (my year), so I am plugging right along, enjoying the rain.  I just took an interruption of almost one years’ perfect attendance.  I needed integration time or reality time.  My new office has a few positive aspects and one of the BEST is Joan who is a ‘Wonder Woman’ sometimes.   So…CONGRATULATIONS on having a nephew FINALLY!  I hope you had a good family visit at Christmas and your house isn’t sliding anywhere and you have a mailbox to receive this greeting.   Things are very damp here.  I am just trying to keep my feet on the ground.  My breath is steady and too much bad food from getting into my mouth.   Wanting trim hips is certainly a challenge with the advent of my taking hormones.I did see the movie A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT.  And you were right…it was BEAUTIFUL, such poetry.  I imagine now is a creative time for you…time to do art work?
This painting (on this card) reminds me of Alameda and Berkeley in some distant past.  Do you take photos these days?I am learning and liking the new Presidency—a different scene and I want even more to visit D.C. (maybe this year).  I hope all is well.  Peace and Love, Barbara.P.S.  Joan was so excited to get your card.
And yet, another beautiful beach scene card from Paloma.  I want to go there, too:   It shows a colorful tree on ILE MAURICE in MAURITIUS.
Dear Michael, I don’t know if we’ll survive this.   It’s a tough life…all day on the beach with this warm water!   We just took a break to have lunch in a restaurant on another beach.   
This morning (before the beach) we went on a helicopter ride.   That was my first time.  It was great.  I’ll send you some pictures if they’re good.  I’ll write some more later…after two weeks already I love it here.
Miss you, Love, Paloma
One night he took her with a group of friends to see a play at the village theater.  They would never forget that evening because it was the first time they touched.  In the dark, sat on a plank birch, they held hands.  Not squeezing, just holding and that was enough to make them sizzle as if a fire had been lit in their bellies.--Eka Kurniawan in his novel, MAN TIGER

Happy to Find A Letter

“You can’t believe everything people tell you.”--Christopher Bram, HOLD TIGHT
I was so happy to find a letter from my Aunt Lela in my West Hollywood mailbox:
Happy New Year.I hope your holidays were nice and that your New Year has started out good.  Our holidays were very fun-filled.  We went to Washington from the 23rdto the 29th to have Christmas with Mona and Donna and all of my “lil hitos and hitas”.  The visit was too short for all of the catching-up we have to do between visits.
Mona amazes me the way she handles everything so calmly with the size of her family.  Three are blonds with light hazel eyes and the last two are my “lil chicanos”.
Donna’s new “lil one”, Veronica, is 100% PAYNE (Pain…never), so white and reddish blond hair with the most beautiful bluey eyes I’ve ever seen.  My sweet Danielle was my first “chicana”.   She’s in kindergarten now and loves school.  She is reading first grade level already and takes after her mom, of course.  That’s where the ARMIJO’s excel, right?   Look at you and your family! My arrival back to California left me very saddened.  It’s not just because my girls are living so far; it’s because I got the news that Joey and Michelle are separated and my three beautiful ARMIJO grandchildren have to deal with all of this.   It breaks my heart to see such sadness out of my control!  Joey’s are soon to be 8 years old (Joey); Alisha is 6 years old and the Corker (Cory) is 4 years old.  They are pure “gringos”:  blonds with hazel brown eyes.  They’ve told me they’re really trying to work it out…however long it takes because they still love each other (but right now they’re NOT friends anymore).  Whatever that means!  Well, all I can do is pray and let GOD direct their lives whatever way HE wills and accept it and live on, right?
Write me and let me know how everything is going with you, your mom and your brothers.
Know that I love you all and really like hearing from you.God Bless.Behave and Regards to your mom and brothers.Love,  Aunt Lela
And I am in envy of all of the tropical places that Paloma ventures off to.  She was just in the Mauritius Island of ILE MAURICE:
13-01-1993Dear Michael,I was kind of scared when we first arrived here.  It’s different here.  We are going to stay for almost a month here.    Now after two days I love it.  You can’t imagine the color of the water that is just gorgeous.  The water is really warm and the beaches are not crowded at all.  The only problem right now is that the sun really burns.  It is summertime here in January.   Even last year in the Caribbean (or in Africa) I don’t think the sun was this strong. 
I am like you:  dark-skinned usually and I can stay out in the sun for hours but here there is NO WAY.  It’s also very cheap over here but for you it’s kind of really far.  Even for us it’s already pretty far—farther than Los Angeles.  Oh well…we deserve it.  I wish you could appreciate it, too.  Miss You.Love, PalomaThe picture at the bottom of this card with the red tree kind of shows you the color of the water.
It’s already mid-January and I’m happy.  I formulated my schedule to go to Northern California for another Alameda visit:  January 15th, 16th, 17th.  Home is where you’re loved.  It can be anywhere.   I guess home is Northern California AND Southern California.
True Love is made of four elements:  Loving KindnessCompassionJoy And Equanimity.--Thich Nhat Hanh, HOW TO LOVE

My Love for Postcards

The body is imaginary, and we bow to the tyranny of a phantom.  Love is a privileged perception, the most total and lucid not only of the unreality of the world but of our own unreality:  not only do we traverse a realm of shadows, we ourselves are shadows.--Octavio Paz, Nobel Prize winning Mexican poet and essayist, describing the intriguing novella:  The Invention of Morel
Alan’s mom, Gloria, travels a lot with her husband, Jack, for business and pleasure.  Jack still works in the jewelry findings business.  I am fortunate as she has been aware of my love for postcards and has been sending me a note here and there.  I loved the ART DECO image from a recent Miami, Florida postcard.
From Gloria1/6/1993Hi!I arrived well fed and tired in Miami after the cruise.Jack and I are withdrawing from food FOREVER!  The hotels on South Beach are small as you can see pictured.  I will inquire to find out the best one.Hi ALAN…Love You.Affectionately, Gloria and Jack
1/9/1993Hi! We are in Naples.  It is beautiful.  The plant life is magnificent.  We came here for the weekend…had tea at the Ritz-Carlton.  We saw HOFFA and now we are leaving for brunch at the Ritz.Affectionately, Gloria and Jack
Paloma kept to her word when she said the next time I would hear from her it would be from REUNION ISLAND.   Where is REUNION ISLAND?  I wondered myself.  It is amidst the Indian Ocean.   It is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 120 miles Southwest of Mauritius, the nearest island.  Now this place looks inviting but it looks like it’s quite a trek to get there. Le 10/01/93Dear Michael, It’s quite HOT here but beautiful.  We are leaving tomorrow for the Mauritius island (it’s about 200 kilometers from here; New York is about 17,000 and Paris a distance of about 10,000).  I hope you’re OK.Write some more pretty soon…Love, Paloma, Alexandre
Paloma’s postcard arrived in a timely manner as I had just mailed the following to her.  We must’ve been on the same ‘thinking of you’ wavelength (as we often are).  I sent her a magazine clipping photo of Tom Cruise and did a forgery autograph by Tom.  Ha-ha
I stamped Paloma’s envelope with some cool new ELVIS stamps and sent her a postcard from BUTTERFILED’s (a Restaurant and originally the guest house of the John Barrymore estate).  I love the garden setting there.  In the early 50s rumor has it that the cottage was occupied by Errol Flynn. Photo:  John Barrymore
January 10, 1993Dear Paloma, Here’s the latest movie guide I picked up when I went to see the movie DAMAGE the other night.  DAMAGE was quite good…but of all the movies I’ve seen this year I must recommend ALLADIN, BECOMING COLETTE and THE CRYING GAME.  Have you seen (or heard of) any of those films?  I am going to see Tom Cruise’s latest movie, A FEW GOOD MEN today.
Are you vacation getaways over?
I now have a vacation planned from February 5th to 15th.  Alan and I are flying to Miami Beach, then we are going to San Juan, Puerto Rico and we may visit an island in the Caribbean called St. Kitts.Photo:  Erroll Flynn My new 1993 goal is sort of tied in to the memory of you and weight-lifting.  My membership at my gym expires in February 1993, so I am considering a search for a Personal Trainer who will train me and spot me regularly on free weights.  So we will see, time will tell.  Have you been aerobicizing or working-out at all or are you getting flabby?
I am going to Alameda again (next weekend) for the 15th, 16th and 17thfor a visit.  I probably won’t visit again until June or July.  I’m going to take my mom to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM in April.  She grew up in Santa Fe and hasn’t been there since she was seventeen!

There’s a girl named Kim Dykstra that I work with.  She rents my condo and I think she might like me.  We’ve gone out a few times but she has her own share of problems.  She was married once and is so domineering sometimes.  Oh well…I miss you.  I’m glad you liked the T-shirt.Love You,MichaelP.S.  Of course, Tom Cruise signed the magazine for you!
“I don’t care what the critics say as long as it is on the front page.”--Christian Dior

Special Achievements

“Now I have come to the cross-roads in my life.  I always knew what the right path was.  Without exception, I knew, but I never took it.  You know why?  It was too damn hard.  Now here's Charlie.  He's come to the cross-roads.   He has chosen a path.  It's the right path.  It's a path made of principle that leads to character.  Let him continue on his journey.” 
–AL PACINO as Lt. Col. Frank Slade

--as heard in the 1992 film, SCENT OF A WOMAN
My time in Alameda was coming to an end.  I managed to accompany mom to the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery to visit my Dad’s gravesite. 
“At least he has a beautiful hillside view and a Bank of America right across the street.  It seems perfect for him.”Mom laughed in agreement.
Mom and I went to see the new Al Pacino movie, SCENT OF A WOMAN.It was so good.  That’s a classic.  I loved the dance scene.
One morning I noticed mom had a workplace newspaper in her kitchen basket.  For some reason it had just caught my eye.  It included a group of Postal Employees who won a Special Achievements Award for their team work and high productivity.
“What?” I asked in shout mode, “Why didn’t you show this to me?”“Oh, it’s nothing.”“No, it’s not.  I already knew you were a high productive achiever.  It’s about time you got some recognition.  That’s so cool...but some of these people look a bit on the strange side."She laughed, "Some of them ARE!"I asked her to identify some of the group.  I loved her play-by-play explanation that included some gossip about a few of them. 
I took a photograph of mom’s house the night before I left.  I needed to remember it with the lights glowing. One of my favorite moments with mom is our 'alone time' in the morning while she's making her coffee when she is in her casual nightgown.  We chat and laugh about family, movies, people in general, my job, her job and the next time I will visit Alameda or she will visit L.A.  
Photo: Scene from 1992 film, DAMAGE
Once back in Los Angeles Alan and I went to see an intense drama starring Jeremy Irons who ends up having an affair with his son’s girlfriend.  Wild.  It was called DAMAGE.    We also saw CHAPLIN, LORENZO’s OIL and USED PEOPLE.   Movies are what L.A. is all about (especially at Christmastime).
In my mailbox was a cool postcard that arrived via Air Mail from Paloma while she was in Madrid.  The postcard depicted the Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.  She wrote:
Hello Michael,Here is the view we have from my Dad’s house (from pretty far away) but that’s quite nice.  We are already leaving for Balaruc-Les-Bains tomorrow.  Next card will be from Reunion Island.  Happy New Year!Love,Paloma
“It takes a remarkably short time to withdraw from the world. I traveled...until I arrived at a life of my own.  What really makes us is beyond grasping.  It's way beyond knowing.  We give in to love... because it gives us some sense of what is unknowable.  Nothing else matters, not at the end.” –Jeremy Irons as Dr. Stephen Fleming--as heard in the 1992 film, DAMAGE

Holiday Escape: Alameda/Harbor Bay Island

"Sometimes it’s good for him to slow down his steps a little."--as heard in the 2017 film, PHANTOM THREAD
More Christmas Cards arrived just before my departure to Alameda and I was happy to receive them.  I needed them to lift my holiday spirit.   Alan’s daughters (Lauren and Carrie) even gave me a card.  That was an unexpected treat.  From Lauren and Carrie:
People like you are as dear as can be……and ever so special to people like me.  Merry Christmas.Dear Michael,You are a very special person and a great friend.  Merry Christmas.Love, Lauren + Carrie Freiman
I had sent my Aunt Lela a token gift so I was honored with another card from her:
Michael,I did get the tote bag and what a lovely bag, too!   Thank you so very much.  You’re such an “angel”.   Donna and Mona are supposed to be here in July with all of the kids.  It sure would be neat if we could put together a picnic with all of the ARMIJO cousins, so they could meet.  I’ll let your mom know when they are all here and she can get a hold of you (to see if you can make the gathering too!).  Take care of yourself.  God Bless you.Love,
Lela
And from my bike riding partner, Birda. I received a cool penguin card.  She flew me for a loop with a surprise I didn’t expect: Michael,How are you?   I’m sorry it’s been forever since I’ve written.  I’ve been really busy.  Are you sitting down?   I got married on July 25th on a boat in the Bay…at sunset.  It was fantastic.   I met Bill…of all places in the CITY OF INDUSTRY at PMT’s Terminal.  He was a mechanic there.  I guess you would say it was love-at-first-sight.  We met in March and got really tired of trying to find ways to see each other, so he put in a transfer to our Milpitas Terminal.  We’ve been together since.I hope all is well with you.   Write soon.Hope you holiday happiness hits a new high!Merry Christmas.Love Always,Birda And so…the flight into Oakland was quick and easy.   Mom had a few set itineraries like a visit to my Grandmother’s house.   When we arrive there we never know who will be there.   This time it was Grandma, Betty (as is the usual case since Betty lives there), Uncle Arthur and his son, Luis.   I never see Luis so that was a cool treat.   So many cousins and so many I don’t know and may never meet.  There are so many in Santa Fe, NM and the surrounding areas).  The next stop was to my cousin Cecelia.  I always think of her as my Aunt Cecelia because she is older than me.  She was home with alone but soon my cousin, Patrick, arrived.  Then Cecelia’s husband, Jim Markus arrived, too.  I snapped a couple of photos of them.
As the days progressed there were visits before Christmas Eve and on Christmas Eve.  Mom and I even went to Castro Valley to Tony’s house one day.   The John and Sherri kids are walking distance so they popped over from time to time just to stare at the tree and ponder what was inside their assigned gifts.  

On Christmas Day mom made a feast which we began to eat around noon.  This made it easy for a leftover dinner.   I loved being around my family; however, it felt a little different this year.  It’s because I feel a connection to Alan and his family now and I felt a bit sad I couldn’t be with them, too.   
Alas, I’d be back in Los Angeles soon.   I enjoyed every minute.  I snapped photos during present opening.  I even managed a photo of my sis in law, Sherri (a miracle unto itself). 


Christmas is mom’s favorite holiday.   She likes it when we are all here together.  It was fun.  John is the luckiest because he is so nearby.  It’s like living in Mayberry RFD (TV series from 1968-1971).  

I’m happy to come back to visit.  Home is where you’re LOVED.  It can be anywhere.  I’m lucky that I’m loved here, too.  This is a beautiful place for a Holiday Escape.  If only I had my bike.
I feel so much more relaxed when I’m moving.  Finally, I’ve come to understand that there are times when I’m not supposed to be moving about.  The only way we can learn to do this is by practicing, a little at a time. –Naoki Higashida, THE REASON I JUMP, written by an autistic boy when he was 13 years old.

"About the Beach"

LOVE looks not with the eyes, but with the MIND.”--Shakespeare words that Alexander McQueen (fashion designer) had tattooed on his arm
I received a few more Christmas Cards this week.   One from Lottie Powell (her husband, Michael, daughter, Reida and dog named Boo).   Her card had to be comical.  That’s her beautiful personality.  And yes, I did laugh at Santa, complaining about a flat (reindeer).  Ha-ha
Helen, my sis in law, sent a card but the best inclusions were photographs of my nieces (Lauren and Leigh) from their most recent Halloween.  Leigh was Minnie Mouse.  Lauren was some sequence dressed hoo-haw (?). 
I, myself, sent a couple of Christmas Cards to Paloma.  One was the usual one and the other one was a beach scene with a gift enclosed.  Paloma and I have always been “about the beach”.  We love the beach.  I wrote:
Christmas 1992Dear Paloma,I thought you might like these T-shirts to wear with your new 501-LEVI jeans.  Or maybe you can even cut them up to look more fashionable like-you-do.Nothing new to report here…I am going to Alameda so it should be fun to see my five nieces and the new nephew, John Dylan.

I hope you have a great Christmas and New Year’s.  Oh yeah…your BIRTHDAY is also right around the corner isn’t it?  Wow!  34!  WHEW!  Oh well, you always look better than you age. Love,Michael
I also received a cute card from Bonni Jayne (my girlfriend from junior high and ‘sometimes’ during high-school).  She included a photo of herself with her cute daughter, Hilary.  They were somewhere in the snow. Sweet!
I immediately telephoned mom when I received her Christmas Card.Ring Ring.
“Hello.”“Mom, I think you sent me John’s Christmas Card!”“What?”“I opened the Christmas Card you sent me and it’s a photo of Santa at the golf course.  You know I don’t golf.  This is ‘totally’ a ‘JOHN’ card!”She laughed.
“Yeah, so I think you should send me a new one.”  “What?”“And I won’t even tell Alan that you spelled his name ELLAN!  And all you wrote was ‘Love, Virginia’.  You could’ve written about your day or something else that’s going on.”


“I just talked to you so you know everything.”It was my turn to laugh.  “Okay, I’ll see you in a few days anyway.  You’re right.  I can’t wait to see the girls…and you, of course!”
The next day was Sunday, and again the weather was lovely.  Part of the satisfaction I find in our house is the way I can sit and be conscious of the children, somewhere nearby, growing and playing and learning, within call but not cooped up.   It’s good to sit in one’s house with a child playing outside quite safely, quite happily.  There aren’t many better sensations in life.--Emily Hahn, NO HURRY TO GET HOME

It's ONE Time In The Year

“Words could paint pictures.  I learned from Vladimir Nabokov.  Choosing the right word order, he illustrated, could make an enormous difference in conveying an image or an idea.”--Ruth Bader Ginsburg, MY OWN WORDS, while writing about her European Literature Professor when she attended Cornell University
It is already that time of year when the Christmas Cards start rolling in.  I can never understand why certain people never send a Christmas Card.  It’s ONE TIME in the year that they have the opportunity to pick-up-a-pen to demonstrate some notion of ‘I Was Thinking of You’.   Alas, I suppose I am one of the few who love to send cards throughout the year.  Why would I want to wait for only the end of the year?  I send cards all year long.   The handwritten word is powerful.  When someone writes back to me and reciprocate.  I may not do it immediately but I make the time to do so.  So there…write to me and yes, I shall write back!  
I was happy to receive five cards this week.  One from my maternal grandmother, Mary Genevieve Leyba-Lucero, of Oakland, CA;  Dorothy Rua (who took the time to write a bit more than the usual—I LOVE THAT) of Walnut Creek, CA; Michael G Miller of Alameda, CA; my Aunt Lela and George Rego of Fremont, CA and former coworker, Gloria Romero of Gig Harbor, WA.
From Grandma: Dear Michael, Wishing you all the beauty that is Christmas.And Happy New Year.  I’ll see you when you come here.  Love, Granny


From Dorothy Rua: Happy Holidays Michael,Strange how I had absolutely no Christmas Spirit the past three years but I do this year.  I think it may be due to all I have been through with my Dad these past several months.  I seem to have an even greater appreciation for life and feel the need to celebrate.  I have even gone as far as to commit to a fun-filled evening out on New Year’s Eve!  I have avoided the “scene” for the past eighteen years but Rose Marie and I have set things up for the ‘bash’ at one of the nearby hotels that has a band playing.   You’ll love this.  It will include 50s, 60s and 70s music!  I better practice my jitterbug and swing!   Don’t think I’ll go as far as wearing bell bottom pants and an Afro Hairdo though!   Actually, it’s supposed to be quite nice with a nice sit down dinner, etc.  I will give you an update after the New Year.
I made time to see A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT this past weekend.  There is a lot of unspoken feelings and yes, wonderful scenery.  I really did enjoy it.  Thanks for mentioning it. 
My company shuts down for the week between Christmas and New Year’s and boy, am I looking forward to the break (especially since we are paid for it).  I thought about going snow skiing or driving down the coast as far as Santa Barbara but not sur what kind of weather is ahead.  And the more I think about it the more hangin’ loose sounds good to me.   Cold weather, hot chocolate, a nice fire and a good book would make me happy.  We will see.   I liked your Christmas Card and really appreciate your sympathy (about the loss of my dad).  I know you understand.  Glad to hear you now have a nephew, takes some of the pressure off of you (to have kids). Ha-ha!  I bet yours will be a fun Christmas with the increasing family.  The more the merrier!  Have a great holiday season.  I’ll be thinking of you.  Love,Dorothy
From Michael G Miller: Michael J Armijo,Merry Christmas 1992.  I’m glad you’ve kept in touch with me via the mail service because it’s been a very rough year for me.  Thanks.  You will always be my friend.  I do hope you’re enjoying the Holiday Season.  Let me know how you are doing.Take Care, Michael M from Alameda
From Aunt Lela and George Rego:
Michael,Christmas greeting sand sincere good wishes to you for your happiness  in the New Year.Loving Seasons Greetings,George and Lela







From Gloria Romero: Hi Michael,Who could forget a DEAR like you!  Merry Christmas.  Enjoy your holidays.  I am on vacation Christmas week. I am just relaxing as I visit my daughter part of the week.  She and her family now live in the State of Washington (Gig Harbor).  They like it.  Though I miss them.  It snowed when I was up there.   Enclosed are postcards.  Do you still collect them?  Happy New Year.  May EVERYTHING be great for you in “1993”.With Love Always,A Friend,Gloria, George and Raisin the Dog, too.
“Waiting is a part of LIFE here.  There’s no point in trying to rush it.  In the meantime, I listen, observe, and learn.  We’re in no hurry.”--Taylor Stevens, THE INFORMATIONIST

White, White Sand and Deep Blue Water

“Over the next few days, you will be very much alone with yourself and your thoughts.  Try to accustom yourself to it.  Solitude can be a very good thing.”--Hans Fallada, EVERY MAN DIES ALONE
And so, another new member of the family is born.  My first cousin, Shonette Lynn West had a baby girl on December 2, 1992.  Her name is TORI MICHELE FREESTONE, weighing-in at 7 pounds 2 ounces.  My mom’s sister (Aunt Lillian Lucero-West) is now a grandmother for the first time.Photo:  Tori Michele Freestone
I received a sweet holiday note from Pat Crowley, the grade school teacher I worked with a few years ago in San Francisco.  I loved coming to her 4th and 5th graders weekly to inspire them to THINK and WRITE (aka as the THINK/WRITE Program using actual business people in the San Francisco area; I represented Pacific Bell).    I enjoyed Pat’s letter because it gave me a new prospective of what is going on in her academic world (very different from my business world). 
Dear Michael,Just a short note to wish you Happy Holidays…I am still as involved in my profession as ever.  Last summer I spent two weeks at Walker Creek Ranch in Marin with the California Art Project.  There were about ‘80’ selected teachers who were working across grade levels from kindergarten to the Professional level in areas of the Arts.   I selected VISUAL ARTS and DANCE.   The two other areas I could have selected were DRAMA and MUSIC.  We have lessons three hours a day for six days along with watching professionals in the four areas.  There were also performances and public speakers from the California Arts Project.   At the end of the two weeks I had to develop a unit in one of the areas (or both) to bring back to my class.  We also had to perform and exhibit.
I had a Chinese painter from Beijing teaching Chinese Brush Painting.  The Dance teacher had worked at Redding Events for my students in Dance.  We had to choreograph our own part of a dance and put it all together as a group.  Each discipline had a core of teachers working with us:)       A professional from the field    A college professional in the field    A high school teacher    And an elementary school teacher.
I have a whole faculty team grant this year that was integrating VISUAL and PERFORMING ARTS into the Social Sciences curriculum of every class.  We just finished the Fall cycle (with seven teachers participating).    The Spring cycle begins in January (with eight teachers participating). 
I’m looking forward to two weeks of vacation as of December 20th.  I hope everything is going well for you.Warmly, Pat Crowley
Also this week was another receipt of a cool card from Dorothy Rua, depicting a giant, beautiful sand castle on the shoreline of a beach with a sunset backdrop.   Dorothy wrote: 12-7-92Dear Michael,Well, I did make it out of Hawaii the next day and landed on GUAM before sunset (a requirement for that particular flight because GUAM was out of power and the airport was unable to turn on the runway lights).   The island was also out of running water the first two days I was there—loads of fun for all!   Anyway, I made it through the sadness of the funeral the day after Thanksgiving, then spent a pleasant Saturday with my sister, Catherine, and several old, close friends at “Jeff’s Pirate’s Cove” on the beach.   Jeff Pleadwell is one of those friends.  The wonderful thing about good friends it is never matters how long you’ve been apart, the closeness is always there.
“Jeff’s Pirate’s Cove” is on a long, secluded coastline with white, white sand and deep blue water.  It’s so beautiful with the swaying palm and coconut trees (and waves breaking against the coral reefs).  I spent hours staring out at the ocean and the nearby cliffs, hoping it won’t be forever before I enjoy that stretch of beach and the company of those friends again.  
I returned to my other reality (WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA) last week and I am trying to get back into sync with my life here.There is so much to do, especially at work.  Then there’s Christmas!  I don’t have any gifts purchased (or cards).  I need to get a tree too!  Somehow things will get done I guess.  They always do…but all I really want to do is catch up on my sleep!   I am still hoping to find a better job next year.  I plan to get myself in gear after the holidays.  PacTel Meridian is having a big Christmas bash at the MARRIOTT in San Francisco next week but I don’t plan to go.  I don’t care for any of the people I work with and can’t imagine socializing with them.   I may get together with a group of friends before Christmas and do some eating, drinking and dancing—at least we like each other!    I am still hoping to see the movies you recommended and RoseMarie wants me to find time to go to a fun/naughty store she just discovered.  How naughty?  I will let you know if I ever get there.  What are you up to these days?  Notice how easy I moved from that subject (of naughty) to YOU?  Ha-ha.  I am looking forward to hearing from you...as always.Love, Dorothy
All he had was that truckAnd all I have are his songs.You’ll never feel young in your old cage—that’s old age—a cage,And all you’ll have are songs.--Samantha Lucero, my cousin, from her short story “Spaces Tightly Recede” in her book of poetry:  SIX RED SEEDS

I Will Always Love You

Most people today are afraid, basically everyone, because they’re all up to something forbidden, one way or another, and are worried that someone will get wind of it.--Hans Fallada, EVERY MAN DIES ALONE
I’m being brainwashed by two songs that I keep hearing repeatedly.   One is by THE HEIGHTS called “How Do You Talk To An Angel”.    The other is, of course, by Whitney Houston from her film THE BODYGUARD called “I Will Always Love You”.   The way she sings it is so ‘intense’.  I imagine most everyone can relate to those lyrics:
If I should stayI would only be in your waySo, I'll go but I knowI'll think of youEach step of the wayAnd I will always love youAnd I will always love youBittersweet memoriesThat is all I am taking with meSo goodbye, please don't you cry'Cause we both know I'm not what you needAnd I will always love youI will always love youI hope life treats you kindAnd I hope you have all you've dreamed ofI wish you joy and happinessBut above all, I wish you loveAnd I will always love youAnd I will always love youAnd I will always love you
Music does heal me.  Whitney’s voice heals me when she belts out that chorus of “And I will always love you”.   When one is lonely or ‘down and out’ the best thing to do is to turn to a good book or just plain envelope one’s self into MUSIC.  It works.  It heals.  I am thankful.I will always love…music!
This week Alan and I saw a fantastic film called THE CRYING GAME.  I fell for the theme song.    Boy George sings the song and I just love it.   The melody is so beautiful.  The lyrics are a bit sad because it’s about lost love and crying from it all…but it reminds you to STOP FEELING BLUE when love disappears.   Love really never goes away:
I know all there is to know about the crying game I've had my share of the crying game First there are kisses, then there are sighs And then, before you know where you are You're sayin' goodbye Someday soon I'm gonna tell the moon About the crying game And if he knows, maybe he'll explain Why there are heartaches, why there are tears And what to do to stop feeling blue When love disappears I know all there is to know about the crying game I've had my share of the crying game First there are kisses, then there are sighs And then, before you know where you are You're sayin' goodbye Don't want no more of the crying game Don't want no more of the crying game…

“How do you know that it’s LOVE and not just INFATUATION?”“LOVE is INFATUATION.”“What do you mean?” he asked as a challenge, thinking that she was trying to blow him off.She asked him for a cigarette, his first in almost a decade.“I am INFATUATED,” he said as the smoke filled him up.  “She inspires me to do fatuous things.  I used to feel this way a lot when I was younger.  The difference is she still makes me giddy when I’m old enough to know better.  I like the dizziness that comes with it.  It’s a very nice high.”--Colin Channer, WAITING IN VAIN, a novel