Join Me and Live Together

“We learn from FAILURE, not from SUCCESS!”--Bram Stoker, DRACULA
Alan bought a postcard in Hawaii and didn’t mail it to me the regular way.   Instead he wrote on it and left if for me to find.  Clever guy…I especially loved how he ended on something for me to look forward to.  It’s true.  We will go to Washington D.C. together next month and I’ve never been there…
September 17, 1991Mike, You left me alone tonight.  So I had to take out this card which is probably what you LUST for!   Give me about 6-months of hard work and I could look like him again.  See you in Washington D.C. in October.Love,Alan
I had a cute postcard I was saving for mom.  It had to be sent to her because the cover copy has “HI MOM!” written on it.  
9-18-91Hi Mom,If it’s not one thing…it’s another.  They raised my Homeowner’s Association Fee from $118 to $142 starting in October.   It looks like I am going to Washington D.C. the weekend before I come to visit you there in Alameda.  Jeez…I’ve been to New York two times this year and now THE WHITE HOUSE.  I’m pretty lucky.I’ve had this card for a long time and I thought you’d like it because I just got my hair cut like this guy.
I just marked my calendar for November 23rd…when you come here to L.A.Later,Love Always,MICHAEL
A couple of days later Alan surprised me with an Anniversary card.   We met on November 20th, 1989 so we try to celebrate on the 20th of EVERY month.   I loved the card he chose.  It was a corner writing desk with a cup of tea on the ledge…my kind of scene.
September 20, 1991MICHAEL,HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!   Happy New Year! I LOVE YOU!   After “22” months I could list restaurants, hotels, places, airlines, frequent flier mileage, coffee houses, museums, etc.…but most of all I can tell you that I really enjoy spending my time with you.  You’re my best-friend and I Love You.
This is a picture of my new office in my new home.  Do you want to join me and live together?  I do!   We’ve been through a lot, but there’s probably at least 200 years’ worth of seeing the world together ahead.   Let’s start with today.Love,Alan
He grew quiet, and during this half-hour he began to divine the sources of this remarkable man’s cheerfulness and unruffled calm.--Herman Hesse, THE GLASS BEAD GAME, a novelChapter:  PREPARATIONS