Fascination For The Future

How many chapters does LIFE have?  It has many chapters and you’ll notice that when the passenger train you’re on is headed in the wrong direction, it’s often moving so fast that you can’t get off it without hurting yourself.  I threw myself off the particular train I was on and was seriously injured for years. …Sometimes you run away to leave something behind, and sometimes you run away to get somewhere.  I did both.  At least I didn’t kill myself.  At least I didn’t murder anyone.  –Charles Baxter, THERE’S SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO DO, Chapter 2: Loyalty
April 30, 1990I submitted an outline of my MICHAEL and JENNIFER screenplay the other day and my UCLA instructor returned some not-so-thrilling comments; however, I got his drift.  Here is an excerpt of what my instructor, Jeff Melvoin, wrote:
“Seems you’ve found a new direction for your story; suddenly toasters and freezers are yielding telephones with exotic assignments.   Unless I misread the last two scenes, our little romantic comedy has now become an international spy thriller.  What’s going on?  Did you have a change of heart?There are some nice touches in the opening scenes but…before I can comment much further I need to know what your present hope is for this story.  Hang in there.  It’s not easy, this business of writing, and you’re getting a first-hand introduction to why this is so.”
(JEFF MELVOIN wins the Morgan Cox Award at the Writer’s Guild Awards in 2015:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uc99yNp9OA)
May 1, 1990
I had fun during my frequent visits to Alan at his apartment at SEA COLONY in Santa Monica, California.  I captured him on his rotary phone (probably talking to his mother or his business partner, Arthur).
I received another letter from Paloma.  Here’s a bit of what she wrote:
…if you do decide to come this is the best time:  the end of June, the very beginning of July, the end of August or the beginning of September.  You have to come at summertime.
I didn’t write much lately because the year is really starting in a terrible way for me.  Jonathan’s been really sick for a week.  I had to take him to the hospital.  He was throwing-up all the time and he didn’t want to eat anything.  That was awful.  They had to feed him with a needle (I don’t know how you call that in English).  That was a real nightmare when they are little like him.  They can’t put that needle in the arm so they put it in the head and they tie him down so he can’t take it off.  I just couldn’t stand it.  I’ve been crying all day…but THANK GOD he is OK now.  He only stayed 24-hours at the hospital.  We took him away as soon as we could.   I don’t know if you’ve ever had that kind of problem with one of your nieces.  It’s hell.  He’s only 19-months old and he can’t tell us where it hurts.  He doesn’t understand why people do mean things to him.  He doesn’t know that it is to make him feel better.  I’m really happy it’s over now.  
Could you please record the NEWS on the radio for me?  It’s for my ENGLISH Class.  Thank you.  I’m sending you a video cassette.  I hope you can watch it.  I’ll write again soon.  Write me.  Love, Paloma
I certainly cannot relate to the stress Paloma had to deal with regarding her son.  I’ve been too busy horseback riding with Carrie (Alan’s youngest daughter).
Alan makes me laugh.  He speaks to his eldest daughter like an adult and spoils her to some extent.  I try not to get involved.  She’s a smart cookie.  Alan is very smart too as he uses his psychology know-how to persuade her.  It’s cute to observe.
A few days later I received a cool Black and White photo postcard from Alan.  It was photographed by Bruce Weber in Santa Barbara, 1982 of three guys in an old-fashioned car.  I love the photo.  Alan wrote:
May 1990Michael,Does this look familiar?  How about the faces?  The guy’s interest is lost.  You see---there’s only room for two comfortably in any car.  That’s why I have a 2-seater.  FUNNY FACE, SUSHI and THE GRILL for BLT’s and MORT’s.  What did you think of the pictures of Paris?  Looks good, huh?  See you Friday at 5:25.  You’re quite AMAZING.  Are you sure this picture doesn’t look familiar?
Alan makes me laugh.  He’s very quick witted.  I am getting to know his daughters better, too.  We had fun in Newport Beach, munching on pizza.  They’re very cute. I have this fascination for the future.  Robots and science-fiction ideas surround my head.  I was thumbing through a magazine and found a cool image.  It made me think of that song by KRAFTWERK (the German electronic music band) called THE ROBOTS or Die Roboter from 1978.  They are so ahead of their time (like me).   I wrote to mom:
May 7, 1990Dear Mom,  I was at CROWN Book Store on my lunch hour last Friday.  They were giving these free bookmarks.  I thought you’d like one.  I guess you could use this “Robot” card as a bookmark, too.
On Saturday, 5-5-90, I rode my bike from Santa Monica Beach to Manhattan Beach.  I got a little color (a tan).  It was a sun-filled weekend.  Now it is Monday morning and I am at my desk (ugh).  While riding my bike in Venice Beach I noticed a street called VIRGINIA COURT.  Guess how I thought of at that moment?  When you come to visit in June I know a few places we can go:  Disneyland, Universal Studios, Fisherman’s Village in Marina Del Rey and a few restaurants here and there.  I miss you.  I would’ve liked some of that honey-glazed ham dinner you had yesterday. Ha…Love You, Michael
“Love is more natural than hatred.” –Dalai LamaSince from birth to death we all need, in order to survive, to give and receive love to accomplish both our own welfare and others’.  In general, he adds, we feel “GOOD” when we show kindness to others, and “BAD” when we harm others. –Matthiew Ricard, ALTRUISM