I'll Be Back

It was important for him to keep track of things.  While he knew that these pages would look appalling to any educated man, he also knew that nobody would ever see his writing---except…--Elizabeth Gilbert, THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS
Birda briefed me on a letter dated December 6thbut she didn’t mail it (per the postmark) until December 12th.  I imagined her trucking across the country.  It amazes me that I know one of the few women in this country that makes a living TRUCK DRIVING across country.  She is utterly amazing.  I was happy to see her during my most recent visit to mom.  I received her most recent letter the day that Alan and I went to see the new Warren Beatty movie called BUGSY.
Dec. 6, 1991Michael,How’s everything?  I’m at home (off work for 2-days).  I have 3-days ON and 4-days OFF and I LOVE IT (except I caught a cold).  So…I’m sitting her taping movies and wishing I could ride my bike which made me think about you again and how nice it was to be able to see you last Saturday.  We’re going to have to do it more often.Work is changing again.  I have three choices:1    1.  To work local which means I never leave over 100 miles from Richmond, CA (YUCK!)2    2.  Interstate…which means I’ll be gone for two weeks at a time and I will see a lot of TEXAS, ARIZONA, NEVADA and CALIFORNIA.OR3    3.  Extra Board..which means I’ll do EVERYTHING (probably a lot of Los Angeles). 
I think I’ll take the Extra Board.  This means I’ll be able to visit my friend in L.A. more (and no more IN AND OUT BURGERS).I better let you go.  I hope this gets to you with no bills and a good day.See You Soon,BIRDAP.S.  I’m ready for page 4 ½…are you?
Alan surprised me with an inspirational postcard of a photo of the New York Stock Exchange TRADING FLOOR.  He wrote:
Dec. 15th,MICHAEL,You’re busy taking test #5 and doing very well! I’m proud of you and I LOVE YOU a lot.  You’re the BEST, TRUEST friend I’ve ever had.  Just think in one moth we’ll be in HAWAII.I LOVE YOU.ALAN

And a day later another postcard from Alan.  This time he included a cool JOHN WAYNE stamp.  He remembered that I’m born the same day as JOHN WAYNE.  Cool.  The postcard depicted of two French friends walking about the Paris streets together, a drawing by Pablo Picasso:

Dec 16thMICHAEL,Remember PARIS…the first night or TOSSA DE MAR after pizza in our room…ORAUBERGE DU SOLEILE in the tub or the RITZ-CARLTON for high tea in New York City?The Village Restaurant?Resting in San Francisco (where you took me)…OR The CRAB COCKEROR LOUIS XIV…69, 69, 69, 69, 69…sooner or later.ALAN
And a wonderful Christmas Card arrived from BIRDA:
I’m not your insurance agent.I’m not your dentist.I don’t cut your hair. I don’t collect your garbage.I don’t repair your car.I’m not your accountant.This Christmas Card is from someone who just happens to LIKE YOU.
12-16-91Michael,Thank You.  The tape of music you sent is a perfect bike-riding tap.   It starts slow to prepare for the max jam.  Again…it couldn’t have been better timing.
I didn’t get to L.A. that week but I was there last week.  Only one problem about seeing you is that there were three drivers following me for four days.  I couldn’t shake them. 
There is a good side:   “I’ll be back.” 

And with any kind of unplanned luck I will be able to see you.I got your tape the day after a nightmare of a FRIDAY THE 13th.  It made my most depressed look into a HAPPY, SHINY person.
Thanks again.  I can’t wait to see you for Christmas.  You are going to make it, I hope because I’ not mailing your present.  I want to see you open it this year.  MERRY MERRY, LOVE ALWAYS, Birda
 “Everybody deserves a fresh start every once in a while.”
–Warren Beatty as BUGSY SIEGEL