Nothing To Complain About

“Understanding is the one-dimensional comprehension of the intellect.   It leads to knowledge.   Realization is the three-dimensional, a simultaneous comprehension of head, heart and instinct.  It comes only from direct experience.”--Dan Millman, WAY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR,A Book That Changes Lives
I wrote to Paloma in response to her last letter.  I also received cool cards from Dorothy and Birda this week, too.
June 20, 1991Hi Paloma, Summer has begun.   There are a lot of foreign visitors here in L.A.   It’s especially busy when I go to the beach or restaurants.  I hear French and other unknown languages.With regard to that last letter you wrote not too long ago and you being in love when I first visited PARIS was nice to hear.  I felt the same but the timing for decisions was hard.  Perhaps we should have kept telling each other our feelings at the time.  But…oh well…that is LIFE and who knows what’s projected for our futures now (?)  I see continued happiness.  I’m sure.LA FETE DES PARES sounds like a good film.  I hope it shows up here sooner or later.   I am at Santa Monica Beach right now.  You should be here and we could lie out (like our Santa Cruz days).   We were “killer” together on the beach…remember?   You more than me…in those days.  Ha-ha.Love Ya, Michael
I also created a new card for mom of a photo of a Martini that is garnished with a lemon peel.  I wrote:
June 26, 1991Hi Mom,   Summer is here.  I received a letter from Chad Mark Glen.  Do you remember him?   Well, he got a position beginning in September teaching at CHABOT COLLEGE.  He said he would be making about $30 an hour but if he teaches five one-hour classes in one week that it is only $600 per week (not to mention taxes withheld).  I guess it’s better than ZERO an hour.
That’s a heartbreaking story about Dena Johnson.  It’s too much.  I can’t believe she is gone after that tragic boat accident in the Delta.   She was only twenty-one or so, right?  I still think about it and it reminds me time and time again of how we never know when our time will come.   My financial problems seem like “no big deal” after you hear something like that.  Nothing is worse than the death of a family member or friend.  I have nothing to complain about.
Here is a self-made celebration cocktail for your Anniversary (June 15th) because we forgot to toast to that while we were having our Margaritas with our black beans.It’s 3PM and I am going to mail this card to you now.  Tonight, Alan and his, mother, Gloria, and his stepdad, Jack, and I are all going out to dinner.   She just returned from Las Vegas.  I think Jack and Gloria are flying somewhere else this Friday.   She’s such a neat lady (talks a lot).  Jack is more quiet and reserved, but they are a lot of fun.  See you soon.Love You,Michael J Armijo
And I was happy to get an update from Birda, too.   The card depicted a young girl who seemed to be in a bewildered state.  It was an image of Birda who is grown-up now--but is still in touch with the little girl inside.  I know why she chose this card.   She identified with the fact that LIFE isn't always so simple:
June 28, 1991MICHAEL,
I’ve been so busy.  It’s time to sit alone and talk to one of my friends.   I received your card and it seems so long ago.   That’s something like: “I MISS YOU”.   The bike rides…the flowers I used to be able to leave in your mailbox and the Hershey’s I haven’t had since Christmas…Hmmm…I wish I could say the same about OREO’s and milk.  Oh well.Okay…New York, Hawaii, California…I’m hoping for California…but a visit to New York or Hawaii can be planned also.I guess I’m going through a change in my life.  I’m so very unsettled here right now and I often think of going away again—but I can’t.   It seems that no matter where I go or what I do lately the big T (TROUBLE) follows me.   It’s these times I find going away helps…BUT… there’s that BUT word again.   My “BOSS” says no one can take vacation yet!   I really disliked that man!   I’ve decided that it is time to take on my motherly duty and come up with the money to send my son to Catholic School.  It’s four years and $12,000.   All I know is he wants to go and I can’t say, “NO!”.  My mom says I’m crazy but I don’t think so.  I don’t know if y our mom’s anything like mine but mine still tells me what to do.  I never listened before.   Should I now?  NA…Well enough about me.  Just was thinking about you and had to write.   Take care.  Write, I know you’re ready to take another trip soon.   Send postcards!  Love Always,MEP.S.  I stopped having Birthdays when I hit 30 on August 6, 1985.   That makes me younger than you now.  This year son the 6th or close to it we are having breakfast at OLE’S WAFFLE SHOP.   Then we’ll have your Birthday dinner at HORATIO’s.  My treat.   Now that’s a plan.  Let me know the date. Later, BirdaP.S.  A 6.0 earthquake!   I just heard on the radio.  I hope all is well.  Let me know.   B.B.
I recently shared the news of the the twin girls that live next-door to my mother with Dorothy Rua.   Dina Johnson and her twin sister, Denise when to Lake Berryessa to water ski.   The twin sister, Dina, drowned in an accident.  How awful as she was only a teenage girl.   That must have been devastating to the parents and the sister who is no longer has her twin.   No one has NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT until a loss of life strikes us unexpectedly.  Dorothy wrote back.  Her card was clearly a depiction of her as well:  an elegant woman, protected with an umbrella from the hot sun, who just wants to be left alone sometimes.  
 6-30-91Dear Michael, Both of your most recent creations are great.  I was very much in the mood for them when they arrived on Friday.   FEET FIRST (on the sandy beach with the orchid on the red hat) is definitely where I want to be.   I wouldn’t mind having you hand me sun tan lotion and magazines as long as you come out from behind the bushes to join me!   There’s plenty of room under that hat for both of us.  Ha!  And I can definitely relate to the Black and White with the yellow booties.  I’ll tell you she doesn’t even notice she still has the booties on and is pretty successful about not thinking of the office when she’s not there…so, her (my) thoughts are definitely on the warm oil down the center of the spine.  But then, you know what my pick would be, didn’t you?  Ha!I can relate to your MJA HOTEL comments.  I went through similar times when I first moved to Hawaii.   Then again…the summer I moved back to California some of your descriptions of your “guests” made me laugh!  What a wonderful feeling and unexpected laughter this brings…   Things must be back to normal this week if you remember what “normal” is like!I was very sad about the tragedy your mom’s neighbor just experienced.    I can’t imagine any loss greater than the loss of a child.  So much pain for Dina’s parents and sister (especially being a twin) and the rest of the family and friends.   It just doesn’t seem fair for someone so young and so much ahead.  You’re right, the rest of us have NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.  I was reminded of this just over this past week…and also as you know my brother arrived last Saturday.  He stayed until Tuesday, then flew down to Long Beach where he had medical appointments scheduled.   What I didn’t know until he got here was that he was going to be treated for cancer of the liver!   My brother is only 39 years old.  I felt like sobbing when he told me but I realized he was counting on my strength so I kept myself together until I was alone.  I had four sleepless nights this past week.  I know he did too.   We spoke regularly when he was in Long Beach.   We were both thanking GOD when the test result came out normal.  I only hope they were accurate and that the doctors were thorough!    Apparently, Dick, my brother, is experiencing other liver problems stemming from a case of Hepatitis he had ten years ago.  I just hope/pray note of it develops into anything as serious as we thought it might be.   Anyway, he’s in Houston, Texas now visiting with good friends before he heads to Chicago on business.   Then he’ll be back here for a day and a half.  I’ll take off work to spend time in THE CITY with him on July 11th.After such a tough week of stress it was a bit refreshing when Larry, the Director at work treated our department to a great lunch on Wednesday.   Thursday he also tried to raise morale by pulling us out of our cubicles for some fun and games in one of the empty offices.   What he didn’t realize it that it reminded me a little of old “Patricia” games at the SRC-SMART RESOURCE CENTER.   Friday made up for a lot.   At noon Larry comes to my desk with one of my co-workers, Ernie, and says, “Come on, Dorothy.  You’re coming with us.”Larry headed to Piedmont, CA where we picked up Mike Mino (the Collection Manager that left PacTel) and we all spent 3-hours eating and drinking at CROGAN’s in little old downtown Piedmont.   He managed to do what he set out to do…cheer me up!The weather here is finally sunny and great.  It should be like this for your Mendocino trip.  Have a super time.Until Later…Love, Dorothy
Like Dorothy, Birda, Paloma and mom...I refuse to give up.  I’ll always try to be a contender.
He looks better than nearly all of his age-mates at his gym.   What’s wrong with them is their fatalistic acceptance of middle-age, their ignoble resignation to grand fatherhood, impending retirement and golf.  He is different from them because, in some sense which can’t quite be defined but which is immediately apparent when you see him naked, he hasn’t given up.  He is still a contender, and they are not.--Christopher Isherwood, A SINGLE MAN