Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 9

TEN

He had learnt, even as a boy, that he could think better when NOT all his senses were activated. --Sebastian Fitzek, SPLINTER, published in Germany in 2009 

My week was made when my niece, Holly, sent me a Thank You card after I had remembered her 10th Birthday on April 2nd. She wrote: 

April 1, 1998 

Dear Uncle Mike, 

Thanks for the $10 (ten) dollars. 

Tomorrow I’m turning ten. I’m so happy. How old are you going to turn? 

Can’t wait to see you in the summer. I also can't wait to open the present you got me.  

You know what? I moved up in my swimming. I’m in Group two now. And, I have a swim meet coming up. My dad took some pictures from my last swim meet. I will let you see them when you come over. 

How are things going over there? How’s everyone?  

Things are fine over here. Everyone’s fine. Oh, uh...what day are you coming over here? I want to show you things and tell you things.  

See you later. Got to go. I love you. Miss you. 

Lots of Love, 

HOLLY 

P.S. Here’s me swimming the breaststroke.  

Not much else going on this week (other than work at Charles Schwab & Co.) but I’ve been listening to Frank Sinatra sing MY WAY a lot. For some reason, that song has had a resurgence. I kind of like it. I never really knew it when it first came out. It was initially released back in 1969. I was, in fact, ten years old (Holly’s age NOW) but I never knew about it at that time. 

“A Life full of work and toil is not a burden but a benediction.” --Rudolf Virchow (German physician, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist, writer, editor and politician) wrote at age eighteen in a letter to his father in the 1830s.  

Something About Me

‘...the ingenious man is often remarkably incapable of analysis.’ --Edgar Allen Poe, MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE and Other Tales 

It was so sweet of Cousin Marie-Antoinette to keep me in the loop. She sent me a graduation announcement about her daughter, Bernadette Villalobos, graduating this coming May 2, 1998, from the University of Southern Colorado with a Bachelor of Science degree in CRIMINOLOGY. Now, that’s impressive! She also included a photo of Bernadette’s daughter, Destyne Patricia Villalobos (born Sept. 2, 1996). She is pictured at the innocent age of 1 year and 7 months. What a cutie pie! I like the fact that she keeps me informed.  

In addition, my 12-year-old niece, Lauren M Armijo, sent a cute note: 

Dear Uncle Mike, 

How are you doing?  

Thank you for my birthday presents. I haven’t read the book yet, but I know I’m going to love it. 

I tried on the head band. I love it. It looks great on me.  

See you when you come up. I love you so much and I miss you. 

Love, 

Lauren 

PS – Here are school pictures of Leigh and me. 

Lately, I’m obsessed with a song by a group called SAVAGE GARDEN called TRULY MADLY DEEPLY. Coincidentally, there’s a 1990 film that I loved called TRULY MADLY DEEPLY, starring Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman. I wonder if the group SAVAGE GARDEN was also influenced by the film. The movie is about a woman dealing with inconsolable grief over the death of her partner and gets another chance when he returns to earth as a ghost. I believe the lyrics disclose something about me because I really adore this tune so very much:  

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy 
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need 
I love you more with every breath truly, madly, deeply do 
I will be strong, I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on 
A new beginnin' 
A reason for livin' 
A deeper meaning, yeah 
 

I wanna stand with you on a mountain 
I wanna bathe with you in the sea 
I wanna lay like this forever 
Until the sky falls down on me 
 

And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky 
I'll make a wish, send it to heaven and make you want to cry 
The tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty 
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection 
Of the highest powers 
In lonely hours 
The tears devour you 
 

An' I wanna stand with you on a mountain 
I wanna bathe with you in the sea 
I wanna lay like this forever 
Until the sky falls down on me 
 

Oh, can you see it, baby? 
You don't have to close your eyes 
It's standin' right before you 
All that you need will surely come 
 

Ooh, yeah 
 

I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy 
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need 
I'll love you more with every breath truly, madly, deeply do 

I wanna stand with you on a mountain 
I wanna bathe with you in the sea 
I wanna lay like this forever 
Until the sky falls down on me 
 

I wanna stand with you on a mountain 
I wanna bathe with you in the sea 
I want to live like this forever 
Until the sky falls down on me 

 

‘...she wept because she thought of the man...and suddenly she wasn’t sure she hadn’t loved him with a love she hadn’t seen because it had lost itself in the affair like water in sand and she rediscovered it only now, through this moment of CHOPIN Waltz music flung across the sea...he came to Paris.’ --Marguerite Duras, THE LOVER 

My Heart Will Go On

Remember that a fine education can be found in places other than the usual. --Gabrielle Zevin, THE STORIES LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, a novel 

Barbara Reynolds wrote a postcard dated March 20, 1998. She’s in love with her David who is born the same year as me (and Barbara is about 15 years older). Wow! She wrote: 

Dear Mike, 

Your postcard with your e-mail address is somewhere buried. Here’s mine: HYDAV@pacbell.net  We are up and running.  

I got you a DC card. David was born off of the DC Beltway. 

Hope to hear from you online. 

Love,  Barbara 

Now, I had never heard of the DC Beltway before. This made me wonder if I may be missing out on something. 

My 2nd cousin, Patty Trujillo-Richfield, wrote to me as well. She lives in Philadelphia, and I want to visit her. I will because Alan went to college there (Wharton School of Business) and he knows the area, so we will go at some point. Patty wrote: 

Dear Michael, 

I’ve been a little under the weather with sinus problems. It has been raining a lot lately and that doesn’t help. Philly is a bad climate for people with sinusitis. 

Well Michael, the last show I saw in NYC was MAN OF LA MANCHA. It was quite a few years ago. When I was working and single, we always used to go on trips to NY, etc. I love musicals. OKLAHOMA is one of my favorites. SOUTH PACIFIC, STATE FAIR and SOUND OF MUSIC, of course...all oldies but goodies.  

It is sad that they don't make musicals anymore. Too many violent shows. Am I showing my age? 

Anyway, it would be great to see you when you get to this neck of the woods. My parents (Raul G Trujillo b. 1911 d. 1983 and Juanita F Tafoya b. 1919 d. 1995) lived in Long Island for about ten years. I used to visit there every other weekend. It was a quaint area to live in. 

Uncle Charles Tafoya (my mom’s brother) sounds great for his age. As he would say, “I’m carrying too many years on my back” but he sounds and looked good the last time I saw him in 1993. 

Well Michael, I hope we can finally meet. Maybe we can drive to NY, or you could get here to Philly...whatever. Let me know! Take care! 

Love, Patty 

I keep hearing this song from Celine Dion because of the TITANIC movie. That TITANIC movie really was a good story. I do love it when I hear this song though. It’s very soothing and dreamy. It’s called MY HEART WILL GO ON:  

Every night in my dreams 
I see you, I feel you 
That is how I know you go on 
 

Far across the distance 
And spaces between us 
You have come to show you go on 
 

Near, far, wherever you are 
I believe that the heart does go on 
Once more, you open the door 
And you're here in my heart 
And my heart will go on and on 
 

Love can touch us one time

And last for a lifetime 

And never let go till we're gone 
 

Love was when I loved you 
One true time I hold to 
In my life, we'll always go on 
 

Near, far, wherever you are 
I believe that the heart does go on (why does the heart go on?) 
Once more, you open the door 
And you're here in my heart 
And my heart will go on and on 

You're here, there's nothing I fear 

And I know that my heart will go on 

We'll stay forever this way 

You are safe in my heart 

And my heart will go on and on. 

“Every good story has the same shape. The beginning establishes a goal. In the middle we watch the fight toward the goal. The end is what happens when it’s been reached, or when reaching it’s finally failed. The longer the middle, the better the story. The middle is when we still don’t know the outcome. That’s when we care the most about what’s happening.” --Ayad Akhtar, HOMELAND ELEGIES 

How to Seduce Men

‘Confrontation is not my style. I have learned that watching is the more powerful weapon.’--Lucy Foley, THE PARIS APARTMENT 

There wasn’t much correspondence for me this week. There was only a letter from Sandra Donald (my cousin in the Mississippi prison). Of course, she has more time on her hands. She wrote in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day: 

Michael, 

Forgive me for not writing any sooner. It is not that I don’t think of you. I just haven’t been in a writing mood. 

I am now housed in “B” Building. A few of us got together and petitioned for a “NON-SMOKING” building. 

Michael, “DO NOT” send me anymore stamps. March 15th was the last date we were allowed to receive stamps. Your letter will be returned if you do. 

I've received two letters from Victoria Ortega, my half-sister. Have you heard from her lately?

What about Herb, Alan’s friend? How old is Alan? 

My son, Harmon Donald III and 12-year-old, Myles, my grandson, visited with me last Sunday. It was a beautiful day. The sun has finally warmed up and we, too, have been walking and enjoying the first signs of Spring. We had a nice visit. 

Michael, please continue to write. I look forward to your letters and cards. I wish you could really understand how tired I am. Oh well, may God give us strength to hold on till we can meet. 

I must mail these few lines. I am really feeling guilty that I have not written sooner. I promise to do better. My thoughts and prayers are with you. 

My Love, 

Sandra Donald  

The best event of the week was going with Alan to the movies to see this film called DANGEROUS BEAUTY that was filmed in Rome and Venice, Italy. It was right up our alley: a steamy romance of passion, seduction and betrayal. It was quite scandalous. It was a biographical drama based on a true story from the book called THE HONEST COURTESAN by Margaret Rosenthal. 

The movie starred English actress Catherine McCormack as Veronica. Veronica Franco is an adventurous, curious, slightly tomboyish young woman in Venice. Her love Marco (played by English actor Rufus Sewel), who will be a Senator like his father, cannot marry her because her family is too poor; he marries a foreign noblewoman instead. 

Veronica's mother, Paola, played by actress Jacqueline Bisset, plans for her family's financial security, as she still requires dowries for her younger daughters and money for her son's commission. Rather than go to a convent, Paola suggests she become a courtesan, a highly paid, cultured prostitute like her mother and grandmother before her.

At first Veronica is repelled by the idea, but once she discovers that courtesans are allowed access to libraries and education, she tentatively embraces the idea. She goes through the training her mother gives her. Veronica is shown how to seduce men subtly, even from afar. 

Veronica quickly gains a reputation as a top courtesan, impressing the powerful men of Venice with her beauty, wit, and compassion. Marco finds it difficult to adjust to his new wife, who is nothing like Veronica, and becomes jealous as Veronica takes his friends and relatives as lovers. 

As the plot twists and turns, Veronica is summoned to appear before the Inquisition on charges of witchcraft. Veronica refuses to name her clients so, when it appears that she will be executed, Marco publicly shames the Venetian ministers and senators into admitting their own adultery and sins by standing up in the assembly. Bewildered by the extent of sin in the city, the Inquisitor drops the charges of witchcraft. Marco and Veronica were lovers the rest of their days (so it had a good ending). 

I could see this film again and again. I loved going back in time to 16th Century Venice. The dialogue is witty. 

“I am a courtesan. I am paid to make men believe they are loved.” -- Catherine McCormack as the courtesan, Veronica Franco, in the 1998 film, DANGEROUS BEAUTY 

The Most Important Ones in My Life

“Irreparable scars are often inflicted on our mental “tissue” by numerous everyday experiences.” --Sebastian Fitzek, SPLINTER 

Another wild card/letter from Cousin MaryAnn in Colorado Springs who gets messages from her brother who died in Vietnam: 

Dear Michael,  

We have the original print of this, hanging in our bedroom. I see it every morning when I wake up and I think of Rich. He framed it for us before he died. Rich Bazelli is the photographer of this Garden of the Gods photo entitled Garden Window. I told you about him in a previous letter. 

Thank you so much for the photos. I hope I don't have to return them. I would love a photo of you in your early 20s or even younger. Here is the story behind the story of the photos. Dave told me to ask you for them. He did not tell me why. When I received them, I was afraid to look. When I did, I felt pain, then fear for a second, but it went away immediately. I saw a friend in these photos. A man who was my adopted brother, I knew that I loved you.  

Here is the truth. I felt very sad that we did not grow up together and I did not know you when the photos were taken. I know now why Dave wanted me to see them. He wanted me to realize how far I've come since we met. He wanted me to know I can look at your picture and not cry. He wanted me to understand that I can love another man like I did him. He wanted me to see that I can have another. Brother and remain faithful to Dave. I love you. 

MaryAnn 

This week I received a surprise letter handwritten on binder paper from my first cousin Joe Armijo, always known to me as Joey Armijo. He was still living in Fremont, CA, at 4066 Lorenzo Terrace per his return address. He sent me his business card, which shows that he's a Project Manager for General Electric Company. I never knew that. I was so overjoyed by this letter from my first cousin. Here is what he wrote:  

March 4th, 1998  

Michael, 

Well, I finally set aside a couple of minutes to write. The kids and I are doing fine. I am not sure how much mom has said about us in her letters to you, so I will be brief and tell you about the last five years.  

Five years ago, Michelle and I separated. The kids lived with her. For the next year I took a one-year sabbatical from my job. I had been in sales selling electrical supplies.  

I moved to San Francisco with some friends, spending my time renovating an old house in the Mission District for my room and board. I spent a lot of time kicking around the city, talking to people on the street, finding myself again.  

After a year, I put things into perspective and realized that my kids were and still are the most important ones in my life, so I called up a headhunter I knew and decided to get back into the electrical industry again. I was hired by General Electric to manage the largest E&C project they ever had. It was the Clean Fuels project at the Shell refinery in Martinez, CA. After landing the job, I decided to move to Fremont, blocks away from the elementary school where the kids are attending.  

During that same year, things started to go downhill with Michelle. So, we decided that the best thing for the kids was that they come to live with me while she takes some time to find herself. After two years, she found her way to Lake Tahoe, where she is living now. She is a cocktail waitress at Harrah's Casino and Hotel. I filed for a divorce. In October of 1996, the divorce was finalized in February of 1997. I have sole custody of the kids. I was able to keep the kids in the same school with their same friends, which was the most important thing in my opinion. So, they have all adapted very well to the whole thing.  

As for me, I met a girl about a year or so after my separation. Her name is Amy, and she has been a tremendous help. She was working through a temp agency to find a good permanent position in a five-mile radius of home. Since I had worked 50 miles from home, this has worked out well. She landed a position at Merrill Lynch in Fremont and is doing very well. Things have been going pretty good for me at work. Also, I have been promoted to Project Manager. I am still working for General Electric in Martinez. I am handling multimillion dollar projects down in Chile. Bechtel Corporation, who is my only customer, is building some copper mines down there for various customers. So, things are going pretty good for us. All in all, everybody's healthy and growing and I'm trying to keep the horizontal growing to a minimum. Which is always a battle since I sit on my ass all day in the office anyway.  

I've seen all the work you've been doing on the family tree. Wow! I was interested in getting involved in this research also. In reviewing some of the pages that mom gave me, I noticed some blanks that I could fill in and some typographical errors. I was wondering if you might be able to send me a copy via e-mail that I can update and send back to you. I also was looking to get one of the family tree programs and thought it might be a good idea to get the same program you are using. So, the files transferred would be compatible. Let me know, I have included my business card with my e-mail address at work. My e-mail at home is CoolJFA@aol.com but I only go to aol.com about once or twice a week, since I sit in front of a computer at work all day. Well, keep in touch.  

Your Cousin, 

Joe Armijo. 

And oh Yes! It's time for Lauren M Freiman's celebration. Her 18th Birthday. It was a fun celebration with family and her friends. I took a few photos here and there. She is so excited about attending NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. She tentatively has a Liberal Arts Major, so it remains to be seen as to where she'll end up. She's smart. She'll find her path.

“I wish I could say all there was to say in one word. I hate all the things that can happen between the beginning of a sentence and the end.” --Leonard Cohen, THE FAVORITE GAME, 1963 

Everyone Needs a Dictionary

“Music. Wine...the small luxuries of life are how we survive what the mind can’t fathom.” --Mark Sullivan, BENEATH A SCARLET SKY  

My cousin who is in the prison in Mississippi sent a nice note after she asked me to send her a dictionary. She was pleased by my sending it her way. After all, everyone needs a dictionary.

Wednesday, February 25th. Ash Wednesday.  

Dear cousin,  

How are you today? Thank you for brightening up my day. I always enjoy hearing from you. I noticed your letter was dated February 8th. Coincidentally, that was the date my late husband, Captain Harmon Donald Jr., was killed in Vietnam.  

Michael, I did receive the dictionary. Thank you. Did you not receive a card from me thanking you for it? I promise to use the dictionary.  

My love.  

Sandra Donald.  

My cousin, Edward, in Albuquerque sent a nice floral card this week with these eloquent words: 

February 28th, 1998  

Dear Michael,  

My niece, Denise, is back home and happy about it. The whole Korea experience was pure cultural shock. Although, I think the value of the whole experience will surface later. Now she is working on her Master’s and PhD simultaneously.  

The rainstorm you are having will get to us a couple of days later without the furious punch, but with lots of moisture. More snow here than in the last 20 years. Skiing has been great, but don't worry, at my age I'm skiing very conservatively and enjoying it more than ever. I am also spending more time at the Lodge.  

I hope Alan is not feeling too old sending his baby away to college, but it happens. I am sure she'll do great. Seems to have plenty of support.  

Dean and Renee are planning a Spring wedding. Dean, as you know, is my nephew and Denise's brother. I presume they will be coming home to New Mexico for that. They sure do love the Bay Area, although lately they've been affected by the rain, so I'm sure you all are. Enough is enough. My plans for Europe this summer are still in the planning stages. The only setback is whether Cliff Snyder will be able to go. Seems he's asked to teach a summer course, but he seems nebulous about it right now. If Europe does not happen, I'll probably come to Long Beach again in July for a week or so.  

Politics. I'm sure that all the above charges on Clinton are true but I am with the majority that it should be his own business. And with his fatal charm it is quite apparent, he should not have lied about it. I feel sorry for all the women in his life. I'd love to have that kind of loyalty and devotion, but I do think that the whole mess is going to have a great impact on our next government because even though the majority polled do not think it's important, they are not the ones that go to the polls to vote. It's all those folks that find it appalling that will go to the polls and protest. It will be interesting. OK, now I'm off my soapbox. I love you, Edward.  

PS – Wishing you a Happy Easter season. 

I wrote a postcard to Paloma to round off my week. I created the postcard myself by clipping a Disney image:

March 1, 1998 

Dear Paloma, 

How cool! You were in West Palm Beach. I have never been there. I've been to Florida a few times, though and I like Miami, South Beach area, Key West, and Coconut Grove the best.  

It has been raining here, something awful, but this weekend is just beautiful. It's like springtime here. It really is nice.  

I'm going to New York from April 3rd through April 11th. Alan's daughter, Lauren, is graduating from high school this June. She was accepted to New York University, she starts in September 1998, so we are going to try to get her more familiar with New York City.  

There were some fierce tornadoes in Central Florida about a week ago. It's a good thing you were not in that area. I'm having a family reunion at the end of August in Denver. I've never been to Denver, so that will be interesting.  

Not much else is going on. I highly recommend a new film called Great Expectations starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. It was so good; I am sure Titanic will win the Academy Award as Best Picture.  

Love, Michael 

“You know...the movie isn’t over till the music starts.” -Sebastian Fitzek, SPLINTER, first published in Germany in 2009 

Ready To Go

The moments of a journey to think about:  

What did you choose to bring with you to the next place? 

What did you leave behind?

What insights did you gain about what is important?--Christina Baker Kline, ORPHAN TRAIN, a novel 

Alan’s youngest daughter, Carrie, is 15 today. Alan and I along with Gloria, Lauren and Carrie went out for a Birthday Dinner celebration. It was fun. A few photos were taken. Carrie is beautiful and along with that comes popularity at her high school. Of course, there are secrets that she may tell us years from now. Ha-ha 

A few days later I took a photo of Alan while swamped with paperwork in his office (on Feb. 21, 1998). 

Barbara Reynolds sent a HELLO postcard: 

23 Feb 98 

Dear Mike, 

Hope you had a nice “VAL: Day. Mine was the Best EVER...David is here now...two weeks as of the 25th...very good, so far, for me. He is still adjusting from VA & Penn.  

When might you be up here next? And are David and I invited to visit you? Will I ever stop being quite so abrupt?  

I love your fine art card, so restful. 

I love that SCHWAB considers you the BEST and I truly appreciate this sharing. Just what I needed here. I’ve started to act like I’m selling.  

Thank you, Michael. You are such a dear. 

Water...Water...maybe we will sink into the Pacific Ocean.  

I keep visualizing a sunshine reunion.  

You are so good. Thanks for keeping in touch.  

Traveling Light. 

Love, Barbara  

And the family continues to grow. My first cousin, Shawn West, and his wife Reina had a baby girl on February 24, 1998, 7 lbs., 8 ounces, 18 ¾ inches. Her name is DANA KIRIN. I wonder why not KAREN instead of KIRIN. I wonder if it has something to do with the Japanese KIRIN beer? Her mother is half Japanese, too. Wonders never cease as they say. The photos of her are very cute. 

Marie Antoinette wrote a sweet letter this week, dated February 24th. Sometimes her letters look so long but she doesn’t seem to say all that much in them. This time it had more substance:  

Dear Michael, 

I always pray that when I write this letter, I will always find you in excellent health and enjoying life to the fullest! We are all doing fine. I had my granddaughter, Destyne, down with a touch of the flu for about ten days. Then I guess mom caught it from her for another ten days, so I was no worse for wear. Thank goodness with plenty of TLC and penicillin they came out of it great. That is why I wasn’t able to write to you for a while. But I’m back with pen in hand, “ready to go”!  

I’m glad you’re feeling up to par. Mom will be celebrating her 92nd Birthday, the Lord willing on the 10th of March. I warned her to beware of the IDES OF MARCH and she giggled. Mom really doesn’t remember much anymore. She recalls quite a bit of the days when she played basketball and rode horses as a young girl. Occasionally she asks about dad, Bless her heart! 

If I find out anything else, I’ll be sure to let you know. We’re going to try and go down to Cerrillos, NM again in a couple of weeks. I’ll be sure to ransack those old sheds for my old diaries. It’s been such a long time that I hope I find them legible. 

The last few times we went to NM we stopped to see Uncle Victore but his barber shop in Trinidad, CO was closed. Neighbors told us that they hardly ever see him out and about! I’m going to try to find him when he goes down again. I’ll let you know how it went.  

We know a few ARMIJO’s here. In fact, Joe and Mary Armijo baptized our daughter, Bernadette. You know, I never asked them if you were related. I hope to see them next Sunday at Mass and I’ll ask in a subtle way.  

Congratulations on your stock. I’ve always wanted to try something like that. Maybe you could give me some ideas. I’ve set aside a little money for my granddaughter’s future, but the savings haven’t accumulated that much interest. I’m looking at other options. 

You have such great looks Michael that you would blend in beautifully in any big city. Especially in New York City. Now don’t let this get out but you're one of the most handsome cousins I’ve ever met!  

My daughter, Bernadette, said, ‘too bad he’s related mom’. Now, how do you like them apples? You have a few admirers here! 

Well, Michael, I’m rambling on again. I’d better close, so take care and God Bless You! 

Love Your Cousin, 

Marie Antoinette & Family 

PS - Give my love to Aunt Genevieve and all the family. Tell them I hope to see them again one day. 

“It is the little things that count. Little things make big things happen.” --William Butler, THE BUTTERFLY REVOLUTION, published 1961 

A Smart Scheme

“I don’t ever want to do anything that will vex you.” --George Eliot, DANIEL DERONDA 

It's Valentine’s week, a time for joy and a time for showing the love.

Alan wrote a ‘2 Days in Advance Valentine Card’ in anticipation of our Las Vegas long 4-day weekend getaway. Alan bought tickets to see ELTON JOHN at the MGM GRAND. I’ve never really been a fan of his—but maybe I’ll enjoy it, nonetheless. The real entertainment for me is ‘being with Alan’. He knows not to vex me in any way. I love conversing with him. His words are always interesting.  

Alan’s other Valentine dated 2/18/98: 

Dearest Michael, 

Happy Valentine’s Day!! 

It was a great trip to Vegas: 4 days of you alone.

As you know, I Love You!!!

Let’s plan on more exclusive time in any city, any country—even at 3715 Via Dolce. 

Love, 

Alan 

While we were in Las Vegas we went to visit my former co-worker, Reed, and his wife, Deanna. By the time I got home I found a note and a cool card from him. It depicted a woman looking at a mask while a mysterious hand was trying to grab her away. It's actually an image from an oil painting on wood by MICHAEL PARKES, done in 1984 and titled: THE PALMIST. Reed wrote:

Dear Michael,

My deepest thanks for your many kind words and the great bottle of Champagne. I have saved it if for the special celebration--for what I don't know--but will think of you with many wonderful memories.

Thanks again,

Always, Reed 

My mom’s first cousin (my cousin, too), Marie Antoinette sent a Valentine my way also. I called my mom and read it aloud to her: 

Valentine’s Day 1998 

Dearest Michael, 

Hope all is well. I was thinking of you and didn’t want Valentine’s Day to go unnoticed. I received your card and as always was very happy to hear from you and not so happy to hear that you were under the weather. Glad you’re feeling better. I guess we all come down with a “flu bug” of some kind.  

Mom and Joe Pat were the only ones who go their vaccines, so maybe next year I’ll go get one and avoid the misery. Bright idea! 

Take Care and God Bless. Give my regards to all the family. 

Love Your Cousin,

Marie Antoinette 

And sweet Dorothy Rua sent a Valentine, but it was brief. She had said she’d write more but she didn’t this time: 

Dearest Michael, 

You lift my heart and soul.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Love you,

Dorothy. 

PS - More in the next card. Have a great weekend! 

And I was surprised and elated to receive a postcard from one of my newfound cousins of Alburquerque, NM who was visiting Seoul, Korea for a ROBOTICS CONFERENCE. She is my second cousin once removed (Denise D Gonzales-Padilla). Her great-great grandfather, Dario Lucero b. 1892 d. 1973, was my granduncle. Dario and my grandfather, Fidel Alexander Lucero were brothers. Denise wrote: 

Feb. 17, 1998 

Michael, 

I am visiting Seoul, Korea for robotics research and this is the very famous temple in Kyong-bok Palace. I’m learning! 

Take Care, 

Cousin Denise Padilla from Albuquerque, NM 

My mood swings from going to work are reaching a peak. I’m almost vested by being there at CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. For seven years. I feel I need to plan an exit strategy. I am discussing with Alan the ideal of our forming our own boutique business—maybe next year. I sometimes refer my clients to Financial Advisors. With Alan’s expertise in finance and with bonds, why can’t we become Financial Advisors ourselves? I’m vulnerable. I’m anxious. I want to come up with a smart scheme.  

'A man’s greatest source of strength—his family—is also his most vulnerable point.' --Sebastian Fitzek, SPLINTER 

A Treasure to Me

“One occasionally has to do things one does not like.” --H.H. Munro, from his short story, THE LULL 

It happens every so often when a Christmas Card slips through the cracks and arrives quite late. This time it was Cousin Connie Armijo from Los Lunas, NM. She is related to me on my mom’s side. Her maiden name is Connie Tapia, but she married an Armijo (Filimon Armijo). Filimon Armijo is likely related to my dad in some way, but I was never quite sure of the actual link; whereby, Connie’s kids are related to me via both sides of my parents. In New Mexico everyone cross marries one another. Connie included a note to me in her PEACE Christmas card: 

Michael, 

May 1998 bring you and your family health, happiness and good fortune. I was in the hospital. I got sick, and they had to operate on me but I’m doing fine now. Suddenly, I got very sick. Say Michael, let me know about the picture you sent me. Let me know which one is your mom. I haven’t seen her for so long that I can’t figure it out. I guess the other ones must be your brothers. What a beautiful family! Have a great holiday and God Bless You. Say HI to you r mom from me. 

Always, 

Connie 

I was surprised to learn that Paloma from France traveled to Florida with her husband and son. She sent a sweet card from West Palm Beach: 

February 4, 1998 

Dear Michael,  

We made it to Florida where the weather is awful right now, just as in California as they say on TV. We were supposed to go to Key West tomorrow. I’m not sure we will be able to. At least it's not freezing like it was in Paris! You did not tell me if you liked Florida.  

Love,

Paloma, Alex, Jonathan 

Reminder to notify Paloma: I DO NOT LIKE FLORIDA. It’s too humid and I don’t like big flying bugs.  

And cousin Sandra Donald (the one in prison sent a Christmas card dated February 12, 1998. Ha-ha. I had to laugh because this is my 2nd Christmas card to receive in February. Sandra wrote in response to my Christmas Card letter in December 1997. As I read it, I imagined a group of female inmates surrounding her from the way she described it: 

My Dearest handsome cousin, 

It was good to hear from you. Your picture caught the other prisoner girl's attention as I was opening the envelope and they, too, agreed that I have a very good-looking cousin!  

I wish you the very best God has in store for the New Year. Self-employment takes full commitment, long hours and hard work. 

I received a long letter from Aunt Josie and Bill. I was overjoyed to know she and her husband are faithful servants of the Lord. She, too, is very pretty! 

Michael, my son, Harmon, informed me his wife, Lori, is pregnant again. I am not very happy about it but what can I do? Nothing. I pray he stops at three. Three children are enough. I sound just like a mother-in-law, right?  

Everything is in Gods control, Michael. I’ll just have to hang in there and look at each day as a brand-new beginning. Keep in touch. Remember someone’s praying for you. 

My love and thoughts, 

Sandra Donald 

And an early Valentine arrived from Aunt Lela: 

Michael, 

Your love and friendship are a treasure to me. Happy Valentine’s Day. 

Thinking of you on these the days of Sweethearts because you’re such a sweetie for always thinking of me. 

Love,

Aunt Lela 

Recollections and ideas alternated with the most strenuous rapidity in my imagination. --Leo Tolstoy in his short story, THE SNOWSTORM

Sometimes...it's all just Too Much

“I love discovering something new.” 

“Sometimes books don’t find us until the right time.” --Gabrielle Zevin, THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, a novel 

Sweet, former co-worker, Gloria Romero, finally retired after an astonishing 40 years at the phone company. She sent me a Thank You note: ‘For your love and friendship and gifts, a day I will treasure, my 40-year retirement party. Love, Gloria Romero’. I liked that she included a small photo of herself, too. 

Dorothy Rua wrote a charming card at the end of this January 1998 month using a Melissa Harris Meditation Artwork card with these words imprinted:

‘Hold her sacred. Honor yourself each day by making time to connect with your own Divinity’.  

When I read the word ‘Divinity’ I thought of my mother who used to say, “I love divinity fudge.” Ha-ha One can go online and find a recipe for Divinity Fudge. Perhaps I can make it one day. Dorothy wrote the following, reminding me of my wonderful meeting with her while I was in Alameda for the holidays: 

1-30-98 

Dear Michael, 

Has a month really passed since our day in Berkeley? What a special day that was, the identical cards were the “topper”. Did Alan like the “Weekend Get Away” Book? My regards to him, too.  

Your gift of the journal still warms my heart. How sweet of you to give me my first journal ever. I have not written in it yet. Guess I’m still gathering my thoughts because writing about our day in Berkely makes me feel I should add some background on the evolution of our special friendship and all you’ve meant to me over the years. How you’ve helped me through many trying times without knowing. And how I have valued you. Where do I begin putting thoughts and feelings to paper?  

I could also write about some of my “dirt” in the journal but won’t. Some things you just don’t put on paper. Maybe when we’re visiting that White Veranda, rocking in those wicker chairs twenty years from now.  

Loved the TANGO LESSON card. How very sensual. Hope the film is good enough that you’ll recommend it. 

I may look for a good Blues gig in Berkeley or San Francisco. A friend, Jay (Peter’s best friend) says he’ll be down from Sonora to visit and wants to go to a Blues event with me when he’s here. We both love the Blues. He even plays guitar and sings. No, there’s no “dirt” between us...just good friends. 

Feel like I need to go on a weekend trip somewhere. I just need to go on a long two-to-four-hour drive that’s easy and relaxing. Nice cruising with good music—maybe alone, maybe with a friend. It is supposed to rain hard this weekend and through the early part of the week. That’s okay. I love the rain, especially hard rain.  

Say, when do I get that solo picture of you (the one returned with non-deliverable Christmas Cards you sent)? Maybe even the one with Alan and me under the umbrella taken with your Polaroid. 

As Always,  
Love, Dorothy 

On the first Sunday in February, Alan and I along with Jack and Gloria and the girls (Lauren and Carrie) spent the day at THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM. It’s so beautiful up there. We must go more often. There’s just a feeling of space and beauty there. I took some unforgettable photos while we were up there. 

My Aunt Lela wrote to me on the exact day that Dorothy wrote to me. I imagined them both writing simultaneously. Aunt Lela chose a beautiful ANGELIC card:  

1-30-1998 

Dear Michael, 

So, how’s everything with you? We’re all getting over all the flu bugs and colds, etc. that go with the winter season.  

George’s mom had pneumonia again. This time it really sent her into a more progressed state of senility. Well, she will be 97 in April, it’s to be expected, I guess. It’s just hard for us because we’ve been so used to her always being so alert and all.  

So, how were your holidays? Our holidays were good. I can’t believe how fast this month has passed. 

I’m flying up to spend February 22 (Mona’s Birthday) through March 1 (one week). I haven't seen them for over 18 months, which is a record for us. We were getting up there at least every 6-months. I’m going alone because George must care for mom, and he’d rather save our vacation week for a relaxing time just the two of us. I can’t blame him. It seems we have grandkids over every weekend.  

Well, just a few lines to keep in touch. I think Joey’s going to get a hold of you to get connected online with all the family info. Let me know if you’ hear from him. 

Our regards...Love and God Bless, 

Always 

Aunt Lela 

And Barbara Reynolds in Berkeley sent the ‘coup de grace’ card with the headline: Sometimes...it’s all just too much. I know we can all relate to that. When it rains in pours. Unexpected and unwanted things happen—when it’s the good, loving and happy moments that we need to remember to treasure. Barbara wrote: 

31 Jan 1998 

Dear Mike, 

Finally saw GOOD WILL HUNTING today. Finally. Wow! Loved it, Great! Have you seen it? 

How are you? Happy Chinese New Year. Year of THE TIGER. How is 1998 treating you? One month has gone, eleven more, then just year until the year 2000. 

I feel serious about going to a different company like working assets Berkely Police Department, City of Berkeley, County of Alameda or Children or an attendant for disabled person or just finish some schooling.  

How is Charles Schwab & Co.? Time for taxes...Oh it is now 1 February, a rainy Sunday and leaks from the roof of my garage. Yuck! I’ve got to make a phone call since the roof is only three years old. 

The new sofa bed arrived, and I am getting furniture back in place. David will arrive February 11th and perhaps my Florida friend will be here for a week February 10-17th. I’m going to have vacation time 11th—13th and hopefully will not HAVE to work the 16th. I’m hoping. 

I have a new physical therapist and I’m doing my exercises more diligently and I promise I’ll get to the YWCA a bit more. Every little bit helps. I’m still walking to work. Yeah! 

Yard work helps, too. Hard to get out there and spend less that 1 ½ hours. It’s a good meditation for me.  

Seen any good flicks? 

Where will you travel this year? 

I’m thinking Hawaii...or Mexico with David at the end of March. 

How is the rain treating you? 

Family matters? 

I thought I would visit my only Uncle today since I did not have major plans; however, since I spoke with him this morning, he has discouraged me from coming there due to the rain. It’s been more than one year. Oh well, I hope to see him soon. 

Guess this is bye for now. 

Love & Peace, 

Barbara  

In the heart of London, there was a blog that had gained immense popularity - The 007 Gentleman Blog. It was run by a mysterious individual known only as "M". M was not just a blogger; he was a connoisseur of fine suits, fast cars, and thrilling adventures, much like the legendary spy, James Bond. 
 
One day, M received an email from a fan of his blog, a young man named Niyo. Niyo was an aspiring gentleman, inspired by the elegance and charm that M showcased in his blog. He sought advice on how to navigate the world with the same confidence and style as 007. 
 
Moved by Niyo's earnest request, M decided to take him under his wing. He began to share more personal stories on his blog, detailing his journey of becoming a gentleman. He wrote about the importance of respect, courage, and kindness, along with tips on fashion and etiquette. 
 
Niyo eagerly absorbed every word, applying M's advice to his daily life. He started dressing more sharply, speaking more eloquently, and most importantly, treating everyone around him with respect and kindness. 
 
As months passed, Niyo transformed from a shy, awkward young man into a confident, charming gentleman. He was grateful to M and sent him a heartfelt thank you note. M, reading the note, felt a sense of fulfillment. He realized that through The 007 Gentleman Blog, he had not only shared his love for the Bond-esque lifestyle but also made a positive impact on someone's life. 
 
And so, M continued to write, inspire, and guide his readers on the path of becoming a true 007 gentleman, reminding them that being a gentleman is not just about fast cars and fine suits, but about respect, kindness, and courage. --Michael Joe Armijo