Even Broke You Are Lovable

To teach someone how to be perfectly quiet you don’t need to speak to them.--BEL CANTO, a novel by Ann Patchett
A few days ago Alan and I were invited to a Red Carpet Premiere of a film called MY GIRL starring McCauley Culkin and a new young actress named Anna Chlumsky. .  I must tell my nieces, Ashley and Lauren, to see it.  I think they will love it.  It was a cute film and the after party was interesting.  I saw Dan Ackroyd (who was also in the film) and his wife, Donna Dixon along with Jamie Lee Curtis.  Alan and I were wearing sport coats, so I thought, “You know…people probably think we are Producers.”
“Of course,” Alan said, “we are.”  I laughed out loud.
While mom was visiting she brought along her Great Western Account for my reviews.  She owns a lot of shares in a stock (BRK) known as Berkshire Real Estate Investment Trust which pays a decent dividend.  Her cash dividends and capital gains are reinvested and now that I’m studying about securities I instructed her to stop the reinvestment as she could use that cash for investment elsewhere or in her pocket. It was a nice discussion and a preview of what I will be doing as a PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNER with IDS-Investor Diversified Services.   So many people own holdings and they have no clue what the securities are that they own.  Now mom understands what she has—although she has too much of this holding.“We will talk another time about diversifying into other investments.”She was happy with that.
I received a Happy Thanksgiving card from a Staff Clerk (former coworker) in San Francisco named Gloria Romero.  She’s a bit of “strange bird” but it was nice of her to take the time to write me:
Michael-It’s THANKSGIVING—enjoy!  Thinking of you, with Love Always, GloriaI enjoy keeping in touch very much and at a Book Festival in San Francisco I thought about you when postcards were in different sections of books, cooking class and the children’s corner.  It was a nice event.  I have enclosed various postcards (FREE) for you.  I got a lot.  They’re all different and interesting.  I hope you like them.George and I are doing fine.  Raisin, the dog, is doing fine (though she is 14 years old).Well, write when you can.  Enjoy TURKEY DAY.
And also in my mailbox was a "HELLO" card from my Aunt Lela who was married to my Dad’s brother (Joseph Eligio Armijo).  He sadly passed away at the young age of forty-two (b. August 21, 1938 d. January 15, 1981).  I was always so fond of Lela when I was a child, growing-up.  She should have been a schoolteacher for elementary school kids.   She would have been THE BEST in that role.  Lela wrote:
November 27, 1991Mike, Every once in a while it’s nice to send a friendly little hello to someone you really like!I’ve wanted to get in touch with you since Donna got married but I didn’t have an address for you.  I got it finally (from Donna). So how’s life for you?  Everything’s really good for us.  My family keeps growing as you know.  Can you believe Mona has five?  And now my little Donna will be a mommy again in the summer.  I’m so thrilled Danielle will have a brother or sister.  She’ll make a good big sister.  Joey and Michelle have quit with three.  That’s good for them.  They’re doing well.   Well, I hope you have a nice Thanksgiving.   And if you’re ever in the neighborhood be sure and come by and say “HI”.   …Regards to your mom and brothers when you talk to them.Love, Aunt Lela
One day later I received a cool letter from my seven year old niece, Ashley Marie Armijo.  The letter was in her handwriting (using a pencil) that was quite touching.  They were a few simple words but it made my day.
UNCLE MIKE,WHAT DO YOU WANT?  LOVE—ASHLEYUNCLE MIKE, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?ASHLEY A.
Paloma send a cool postcard AND a letter.  29/11/91
Dear Michael,Here are some flowers to thank you for the video tapes. Of course I know MYLENE FARMER, the singer.  She is famous here.  I like what she does but I don’t like her as a person that much.   She is kind of weird.  She’s a very depressive kind of girl by crying when she sings.  She is attracted by weird things but she makes great songs pretty often (her boyfriend writes them).
Michael, are you drunk, doing drugs or something.  You’re sending me a picture that you took last month and on the back the date written is October 1990.  
Then I find it funny that you almost have the same phone number as your mom.  Is your phone number 510-865-2001?   That’s the one you just sent me.  If it’s the right one then it’s not just the area code that has changed.   That’s OK Michael.   Don’t worry.  You can be stupid.  You still look good (just kidding!).  I’m glad I got your letter.  I was kind of worried.  It’s very rare that you stop writing for so long.
Thank you for the brochure about NEW ORLEANS.  As you (already) know we’re not going anymore (maybe some other time).  I wonder when we will go to the states.  We probably will not come next year (especially that in February after our Caribbean holidays…we will be broke) and as we might buy my dad’s car next year (an OPEL VECTRA, you don’t have that car in the states…I know because when my brother—from the states—came last summer he wanted to buy it to take it there!  Nuts!
Our car is still almost brand new (Alexandre really takes care of it) but my dad’s car is such a good deal.  We usually fight with my bothers about such a good deal (especially with Louis since Edward is in the states).  Lucky us…Louis couldn’t wait for my dad to decide to sell his car and he had to buy a new one (especially since it was his turn to get the VECTRA).  I am sure you know what I’m talking about since it seems you’ve been pretty much doing the same deals with your apartments, right? 
Who lives in your house in Alameda now?   That house was great.
How did your tests go?
I’ve heard of CAPE FEAR on TV but it didn’t come out here in France yet.  Maybe I’ll see it in Paris for Christmas.  It’s the best time for us to go to the movies since my parents can babysit.   Well, at least I really hope so.  My dad hasn’t been doing too well lately.  I’m really worried about that.  I’ve never seen my dad like that before.  He is very depressed.   The other day he cried o the phone.  I’ve never heard my dad crying before.   It would be too long to tell you why.  He tells us he is so depressed.   To make a long story short it’s because my Aunt (his sister, the one who used to live in Cuernavaca, Mexico) came back last September to live in France with her son (40 years old).   She is now in a hospital dying.  She has had cancer for a few years.  Louis and I think it might not be the only reason he is depressed since he is not very young (67 years old).   We are very worried.Tell me dear Michael…didn’t you know that you can’t play FRENCH videos on your VCR?  I already told you.  Stop drinking!

Thank you also for wishing us a great THANKSGIVING but we don’t celebrate it here.  I just heard about that day on the news and I thought about you eating turkey and pumpkin pie.  I love pumpkin pie but we don’t have it here!   If you find the recipe you can send it to me (the cheesecake one, too).  I’m sending you a brochure of porcelain dolls.  Is that the kind your mom likes?  Does she only collect the old ones?  
You really need to learn French because I’m also sending you two pages of the FRENCH Cosmo magazine talking about vacation sin Hollywood.  I think you once told me about SPAGO, right?   They say you can see Warren Beatty, Tom Cruise and people like that there.  I’m sure you know that place.  Do you know the other places (HY’s Bar, POLO LOUNGE, and SCHWAB’s Bar)?Well, I spent a big part of my afternoon writing to you (one of my favorite things) but I’ve got tons of things to do.  So write me…Love, Paloma
P.S. Do you fall in love with prostitutes or what—that you can’t afford it?  Just kidding—but if someone can’t love you because you can’t buy her dinner that’s not the right person!   Believe me…even broke you are lovable (or is it loveable).   I wish I could speak better English.  I just hope you understand me.  Well, we’ll talk about that some other time.
The reverse side of Paloma's COSMO magazine clippings are cool too.  I liked the golden hues of this blond gal in one photo and there was another on the reverse of the Hollywood restaurants of an image of Carmen Miranda.  It made me think of that song by her called MAMA EU QUERO.

After my festive Thanksgiving time in Alameda I returned home to Los Angeles for some Hanukkah festivities at Alan's Sea Colony apartment in Santa Monica.  I had already begun to move-in some of my stuff (including one of my paintings that Alan insisted on hanging in the living room area).  That was nice.

I've been getting real estate advice from Alan about selling my condo.  I may choose to sell it as it's too ridiculous to make the $1300 monthly mortgage payment.  And if I end up moving-in with him officially it might be a good idea.  West Hollywood has a rent control rule so I wouldn't get much rent; however, that's also an option. 
On the 6th night of Hanukkah, Alan's mom, Gloria, came over to Sea Colony to join in on the holiday.  Alan's daughters (Lauren and Carrie) spent the night.  It was fun.  I enjoyed the festive time.  Carrie loved her new bike.  Lauren was more happy about completing her math homework.

After the girls went to bed I drove back to West Hollywood to my lonely condo.  I would have rather stayed in Santa Monica with Alan. 
LOVE was action.  It came to you.  It was not a choice.--BEL CANTO, a novel by Ann Patchett