My Real Joy

We talked on the telephone—not long, chatty conversations.   These brief colloquies might have seemed abrupt, even curt, but they were an integral part of our normal and affectionate discourse, rather like those of two people reading their morning papers over a breakfast table and looking up for an instant to make a comment or ask a question. –Sheila McGrath(about her dear friend, Emily Hahn aka Mickey) as found in the Foreword section of the book NO HURRY TO GET HOME by Emily Hahn
I was living life as normally as I could.  I would drive each day to mid-Wilshire in Los Angeles to the ACO (Account Collections Office) with Pac Bell Directory.   My real joy was when Alan would make it a point to come around and meet me for lunch one or two days a week at that seafood place.  I love the fish and chips.  On March 30thI found a couple of fun cards in my mailbox.  One was a postcard from Dorothy Rua.  The other was from my sister-in-law, Sherri.   I laughed at Sherri’s card.  The LION depicted on the card made me imagine her screaming like that as she gave birth to Ally.  Sherri wrote:
3-29-90“We weren’t LION” when we said, “We have three girls!”Dear Mike,Hi!  It’s been one week and I finally had a chance to sit down and write.   We all received your cards.  You’re right.  I do like that bedroom.   We all are excited for your homecoming for EASTER.  Did you know that Friday is the 13th?  Ally is such a good baby.  The girls are really good with her.  Holly gets a little carried away sometimes but all-in-all she just loves her little sister!  Ashley’s favorite show is THE SIMPSON’s too!   We all watch it every Sunday night.  It’s a family affair. 
Our kitchen is getting closer to getting done.  I have almost everything.  I’ve taken the BEFORE pictures.  I just can’t wait to take the AFTER pictures. I can’t believe you didn’t take your camera to STAR gaze.  I thought for sure we’d get to see some stars.  The girls have gotten so big.  You’ll be so surprised.Well, I’m going on and on, so I guess I’ll close for now.  We’ll see you soon!We miss you.  Love from all…ARMIJO 5.
And Dorothy’s postcard depicted a photo by Herb Ritts, taken in 1987 at Paradise Cove.  Dorothy wrote:
3-29-90Dear Michael,…sitting here at a Café on Union Street in SF, having a slice of pie, drinking a Café Latte and thinking of you.  It was great talking to you this morning.  There’s always so much to catch up on.I feel bad that you’re not feeling to “up” these days.  Wish I was there to help perk you up and give you a friendly hug.   There are times when we can all use a little positive support.   As I said on the phone…you’re always busy trying to make your life the way you want it to be and it WILL call come together for you.  I just know it.  You have a lot going for you.  Continue to believe in yourself.I think your upcoming classes sound great.  Who knows you may meet someone who may be a “contact”!My sister, Catherine, and I are cruising the streets and enjoying the sunshine.  I’ll write more later.  I just wanted to send you a few words of encouragement! Love, Dorothy
And then a day later my mailbox was filled with more joy.  It was a handwritten letter from my Grandmother, Mary Genevieve Leyba-Lucero and yet one more postcard from Dorothy Rua.Grandma wrote:
Oakland, CA
March 30, 1990

Dear Grandson,I received your letter and was glad to hear from you.   That picture you sent reminds me of my neighbor!  She’s that fat.Well, John and his wife were disappointed it was a girl.  Now your mother has five granddaughters.  She wanted a girl.  And I have eleven great grandchildren (five boys and six girls).  I have ‘18’ grandchildren.  I could have ‘31’ with Arthur’s two children that died.  Well, it’s very nice to have a big family.  Maybe you will get married and bring us twin boys.  It runs in the family but nobody has them yet.   My mother had twins twice—but they died when they were very small.  One died when he was four years old.  He was near a horse and the horse kicked him, so his spine was broken.Tony and Helen are going on a cruise.  Virginia is going to babysit.I guess this is all for now.  Excuse my writing.  My hand bothers me very much.  Take care.Love, Grandma
I liked the artsy statue and bike postcard that Dorothy found for me:
3-30-90Hi Michael,Another “thinking of you” card. 
This bicycle is saying, “I’m tired of the same old scenery!  I need a change…take me to places unseen, people unknown!  I have so many miles left; I want to ride to all that’s new and exciting!”Remind you of someone?

…sitting here at SKATES, having a hot crab and cheese sandwich on sourdough and enjoying my day with Catherine.  We just left Telegraph Avenue by University where we saw some very interesting “gadgets” in some of the shops.  I’d never seen some of these…um…mmmm…”things” before.  Interesting.  Found this card today so I decided to send it to you.   I found another one for you, too.  I may send it next week.  I can’t seem to get from Black and Whites.Love Dorothy
“I actually think that humans are intrinsically good.  You always have to see the good, the beautiful, in a person, never deny, always look for the greatness of people, without any distinction of religion, caste, or way of thinking.”  
--Father Pierre Ceyrac (1914-2012), a French Jesuit priest who worked for 75 years outside his home country. He was celebrated for his work in both France and India, earning the French Légion d'honneur in 2005.