Sometimes We Even Have Fun

“I once got this fortune cookie that said, "only when all things around you are different will you truly belong". Well, we're all different that's for sure. I see Jane everyday at the institute, and once in while Dede let's her take us out to a fancy restaurant. Sometimes we even have fun. After a while I was the most famous kid at Jane's school. But then a year later, a 6 year old boy named Willie Yamaguchi got into law school, and suddenly I wasn't such a big deal anymore. But I don't care, because I was happy."--Fred Tate, the genius child in LITTLE MAN TATE, a 1991 motion-picture
Los Angeles has a few perks.  Sometimes I get invited to special screenings before the film is actually released.  Sometimes we even have fun.  Alan and I went to see LITTLE MAN TATE, starring Jodie Foster.  I feel like I know Jodie Foster.   She’s like a peer to me (born in 1962).  I still remember her as a little girl on the TV show THE FAMILY AFFAIR.  I grew up with her.  I’ve always tried to make a point of following any work she does.   She’s good at detail and a very smart woman.   LITTLE MAN TATE is to be released on November 1st but Alan and I had the opportunity to see it early:

Dede (played by Jodie Foster) is a sole parent trying to bring up her son Fred. When it is discovered that Fred is a genius, she is determined to ensure that Fred has all the opportunities that he needs, and that he is not taken advantage of by people who forget that his extremely powerful intellect is harbored in the body and emotions of a child.  Jodie Foster also directed this one so I was anxious to see it.  It was an excellent film.  I loved it.  Some aspects of little Fred Tate reminded me of 'me'.
And then…with a blink of an eye I was in Washington DC with Alan.   While I was there I kept thinking of my mom and I wanted to take her on a trip her.   Someday I will do just that.  I sent mom a couple of postcards.   One postcard depicted Abraham Lincoln’s bedroom; the other postcard depicted a painting I loved at the National Gallery of ART titled MY GEMS, from 1888 by William Michael Harnett b. 1848 d.1892.
October 13, 1991Dear Mom, We went to the VIETNAM MEMORIAL yesterday where thy had the names of all the soldiers who died in the VIETNAM WAR.  I looked up ARMIJO and there was one from Albuquerque named FRANK C ARMIJO, Private First Class.  I wonder where are relations connect with him.
I didn’t actually see this room in the WHITE HOUSE but it’s one of my favorite decorated rooms from all of the postcards I purchased.  It looks nice, doesn’t it?
Washington D.C. has a nice railway transit system that’s almost exactly like BART.  I like it here.   There are a lot of government offices and buildings (everywhere).  Later…Love, Michael
October 14, 1991Hi Mom,I am just about to leave Alexandria, Virginia for the Washington Dulles Aiport.  We went to the Arlington Cemetary toay and I saw the gravesite of JOHN F KENNEDY.You would love the State of Virginia.  It’s really pretty here.We went to Mount Vernon, Virginia and saw George Washington’s house.  I really like it in Virginia.  I wouldn’t mind living here.I got a framed replica of this painting in the museum gift shop because I liked it so much:  MY GEMS.  I got you something from Virginia.  Love you…See You in 4-days…Michael J Armijo
One did not depend on MARINES for good table manners.  One depended on them to have the right instincts when it came to matters of life and death.--Viet Thanh Nguyen, THE SYMPATHIZER, a Pulitzer-Prize winning novel