A Gift To Me in the Form of an Angel

The moment love stops growing, it begins to die.  It’s like a tree; if a tree stops growing, it begins to die.  We can learn how to feed our love and help it continue to grow.--Thich Nhat Hanh, HOW TO LOVE
My eldest niece, Ashley, sent me a card of lily flowers.  She may not realize that she naturally knows how to keep love growing.  I hope I am also helping her to learn this as an important way of life.  It was sweet to see her seven year old handwriting (almost eight next month).  I think I’d like to take her and mom on a trip to New Mexico at some point.  I need to save some discretionary cash first.  Here were Ashley’s sweet words:
Dear Uncle Mike,Guess what!  I’m getting a slumber party on May 8th at 6:30pm at my house.  I’m inviting Lauren, Nicole and Jennifer.  When are you coming to visit me again?  I Love you so so so so so much!  I might have another party with my family.  Tell Carrie that I’m getting a slumber.Love, AshleyP.S.  It’s April 23, 1992.

Alan and I went to see a dramatic film about deception called WHITE SANDS.  We really liked it.  There’s an actor in it who someone had said I resembled (Willem Dafoe).  I don’t really see it but maybe after this film I saw a little bit of it.  Alan said, “You don’t look like him.  You’re way better looking.”“Thanks, I’ll take that,” I laughed.
The movie, WHITE SANDS, takes place in a small southwestern town and the sheriff finds a body in the desert with a suitcase filled with $500,000 CASH!  Wow!  I wish I found it (minus the dead body).   He impersonates the identity of the dead man and then an FBI investigation comes about.  It also stars Mickey Rourke (who was standing in the urinal next to me recently in West Hollywood at that LOUIS XIV Restaurant that Alan and I love so much).  The lead actress was very good also.  Her name is Maria Elizabeth Mastrontonio (must be Italian).
I’m a little bit excited about my two-week training for CHARLES SCHWAB & CO.  I get to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana.   The only thing I know about Indiana is that INDY 500 car racing thing that goes on there.  SCHWAB has a huge facility there so I guess I’ll get a lot of the formal training I need to know and I fly there on Sunday, April 26th.  I have to be ready to report on Monday, April 27th.  Dorothy sent a DESCENDING ANGEL card that I really loved.  Her descriptive words while at the beach made me want to be there.  It made me appreciate my nearby beach here in Santa Monica; however, I’ll be gone to Indianapolis soon.  Luckily, it’s a short gig.   I couldn’t answer Dorothy’s letter until I returned from Indiana.   Here were her latest words:
4-23-92Dear Michael, How could I stroll through the Art Galleries in CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA and not think of you?   I’ve never pictured you “descending” from the heavens but I often believed you were a gift to me--in the form of an ANGEL—and in other ways also.
It was strange to feel your presence as I walked along the bright, white sandy beach.  There are no palm trees here—just cypress.  The sun is shining bright and the breeze is warm.  A few surfers are taking advantage of the tame waves rolling in and young children and puppy dogs are teasing the smaller waves that are kissing the shore.
I’ve been out here for hours and the same question keeps coming to mind.  How am I going to live near the ocean again?  What changes am I going to have to make so that I can live the way I wish to live?  Every time I get near the ocean I have a greater appreciation for your choice to move to the land of palm trees and warm beaches.
With the spring weather upon us I hope you’re able to enjoy all of the things you moved to Southern California for.  I’m assuming you’re still busy with CHARLES SCHWAB & CO. and that you’ll soon be headed to their training center.  As always, my positive thoughts are with you.
4-26-92I called you today.  The length of your “beep” on the recorder indicates you have several messages waiting for you.  Perhaps you’re out of town? 
I was listening to the tape you’d given me and thought I’d call while I finally had a full, peaceful hour to myself.   Since you aren’t available I’ve decided I should finish this card.I’m wondering what type of people you work with—have you had an opportunity to make any new friends?   Are they the type you care to have as friends?  How competitive do you have to be amongst each other?
I can hear you…What the heck is this…”50” questions or what?  Ha!    Well, hang on to your pants (yeah, the ones I once told you I liked and you told me I could take them off anytime! Ha-ha). 
I have more questions!  What have you decided about your condo?   Will you be moving?  Just remember…I don’t want to hear you’ve sold your convertible for a station wagon or van!  With Love,Dorothy
While in Indiana I brought along some postcards because who knew if I’d find any at the hotel I would be staying.    I had a REFLECTIONS OF CANADA postcard for mom that I wrote before I departed.  I know she misses dad very much.  I wish I could spend more time with her.  It’s never enough.

4-26-92Dear Mom,No, this is NOT Indianapolis.  Lauren and Carrie bought me a postcard calendar from CANADA.  I guess this is TORONTO.  It looks nice.  It’s Sunday at 8:30AM and I’ll be leaving at 12:55PM today for Indianapolis, Indiana.  I still haven’t finished packing.  I can’t wait to see you in June.  It’s not that far away.I hope your hand and feet feel better.  You should take some disability time off to rest you hand from that letter sorting at work!  And…you could come here to rest for a few of those days!Love You, Michael
Once my father was dead, my mother sought in me some reflection of his characteristics and temperament.--Jerzy Kosinski, THE PAINTED BIRD